Home Modification (Ramps & Rails)

Home Modification covers physical changes made to your home to improve safety and accessibility. Under the Support at Home program, Assistive Technology and Home Modifications sits within the Independence category, alongside services like Personal Care, Social Support, and Respite Care. 

With Chris Barnard Health, Home Modification can include: 

• Ramps, replacing steps or uneven entryways with safer, more accessible access 

• Grab rails, installed in bathrooms, hallways, or anywhere extra support makes a real difference 

• Handrails, added to steps, stairs, or outdoor pathways 

• Other safety-related modifications, tailored to specific risks identified in your home 

These changes are often recommended following a home safety assessment, typically carried out by an Occupational Therapist, who identifies exactly where a modification would make the most meaningful difference. Once a modification is identified in your Care Plan, our Operations Team takes care of ordering products and arranging installation, so you’re not left managing the logistics yourself. 

Smaller home modifications can be funded through your regular quarterly Support at Home budget, where a contribution of roughly 5% to 50% may apply, based on your income and assets. For larger modifications, like a full ramp installation or significant bathroom changes, funding is instead drawn from the dedicated Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) pool, up to $15,000, separate from your everyday quarterly budget, so you’re never forced to save up your regular funds for a big item. This is a deliberate design feature of Support at Home: you no longer need to put aside your quarterly budget for things like walkers or home modifications, because a separate pool exists specifically for that purpose. 

Your Care Partner can confirm which funding path applies to your specific modification, and help map out exactly what’s available to you. 

Not yet receiving government funding, or need a modification that falls outside your current allocation? Privately funded Home Modification is also available, so safety improvements don’t have to wait on approval timelines. 

A missing rail or an awkward step might seem like a small thing, until it results in a fall. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and hospitalisation among older Australians, and many are genuinely preventable with the right modification in the right place.

Beyond safety, there’s a real difference in confidence. Clients often tell us that a well-placed ramp or rail doesn’t just prevent a fall, it changes how they move through their own home, with far less hesitation and far more ease.

Recommendations Rooted in a Real Assessment 
We don’t guess where a rail or ramp should go. Our Occupational Therapists assess your specific home and movement patterns, so every modification is placed exactly where it will genuinely help, not just where it’s assumed to be needed. 

Support That Doesn’t Stop at Installation 
Needs change over time, so rather than a one-off fix, we check in to make sure your modifications still suit you as your mobility or circumstances shift, adjusting or adding further support if required. 

Every Chris Barnard Health service, Home Modification included, is guided by your rights under the Aged Care Act 2024. You always have the right to: 

• Make decisions about your care and what changes are made to your home 

• Be treated with dignity and respect, always 

• Have input into which modifications are recommended and why 

• Raise concerns and know they’ll genuinely be heard 

Support at Home participants generally qualify from age 65 (50 for First Nations people) if they need coordinated help to remain safely and independently at home. Younger people living with disability, dementia, or other unmet care needs may also be eligible. Home Modifications are also frequently accessed following a hospital stay, a fall, or as part of a broader Occupational Therapy care plan.

• Modifications based on real assessment, not guesswork. Every recommendation comes from a genuine Occupational Therapy assessment of your home and needs, so what gets installed actually addresses your specific risks. 

• Ongoing care, not just a one-time job. We check in as your needs change over time, rather than treating installation as the end of the conversation. 

Call 1300 602 469 to talk through Home Modification and how it fits into your Support at Home plan, or complete our website enquiry form and our team will reach out.