Key Takeaways

• Start with person-centred conversations to understand daily challenges and needs
• Involve occupational therapists early for professional assessment and product recommendations
• Use a room-by-room approach to select appropriate assistive devices
• Prioritise safe setup, correct installation and hands-on training
• Review equipment annually or after major health changes
• Consider advanced solutions like Behn for higher-support transfers or carer load reduction
  

Why Assistive Technology Matters at Home

Assistive technology plays a key role in helping people live safely and comfortably at home. Whether someone is ageing, living with disability, recovering from illness or managing a long-term health condition, the right equipment can make daily activities easier, reduce injury risk and support independent living.

In Australia, most people prefer to stay in familiar surroundings rather than move into residential care. Assisstive such as grab rails, shower chairs, lift recliners, smart lighting, medication reminders and adjustable beds can help people complete everyday tasks with more confidence. For those with higher support needs, advanced systems like Behn can assist with transfers and reduce physical strain on carers.

This guide explains how to understand a person’s needs, the types of assistive technology commonly recommended, and how families can set up a safe and supportive living environment.

Understanding Needs Through a Person Centred Approach

Watching daily routines with care and curiosity

The best way to begin choosing equipment is to understand how a person currently moves through their day. This includes people living with disability, older adults, people with neurological conditions, and those recovering from illness or surgery. Notice how they rise from a chair, move around the home, prepare meals, reach commonly used items, use the bathroom and get in and out of bed. Small signs such as holding onto furniture, hesitating before moving or struggling to stand can signal a need for support.

This approach aligns with the Aged Care Quality Standards - The Individual, which emphasise independence, dignity and choice. It helps ensure that assistive technology enhances a person’s life rather than being imposed or overwhelming.

Creating safe and supportive conversations

Talking about changing needs can be sensitive. People often worry about losing independence or becoming a burden. Gentle conversations help reveal what matters most and what the person wants to continue doing with confidence.

It can be helpful to ask about:

• tasks that feel unsafe or tiring
• situations that cause discomfort, strain or pain
• activities the person has begun avoiding
• times when they have felt frightened of falling
• routines that bring joy and routines that feel stressful

Turning insights into meaningful goals

Once you understand challenges and preferences, you can turn these into goals. Clear goals help guide decisions and support clinical assessments and funding documents.

Examples include:

• getting out of bed safely without feeling rushed
• preparing simple meals with less effort
• showering with privacy and stability
• walking to the bathroom confidently at night
• reducing pain during everyday movements

These goals guide equipment choices and ensure that recommendations support the person’s needs and lifestyle.

“It helps me keep my independence. I can do my day-to-day things with less effort, and that makes a big difference.”

~ Carer/user feedback in home assistive technology trial. Source: Thorpe et al., Use of Assistive Technology in Dementia Care, International Journal of Older People Nursing

Clinical Assessment and Personalised Assistive Technology Planning

Why professional assessment matters

An occupational therapist plays a central role in helping families choose the correct equipment. OTs assess mobility, strength, balance, endurance, cognition, communication and sensory needs. They also examine how these factors interact with the home environment. Physiotherapists and home care professionals may contribute as well.

A professional assessment ensures equipment is:

• safe
• correctly sized
• appropriate for the person’s condition or disability
• supportive of the carer’s needs
• suitable for the home layout
• aligned with personal goals

What clinicians assess in the home

During an assessment, the clinician may observe:

• transfers such as bed to chair or shower to toilet
• sitting and standing routines
• balance and gait
• the person’s ability to reposition
• previous falls or near-misses
• fatigue patterns
• pain during movement
• space, lighting and flooring
• carer workload and manual handling risks

This information forms the foundation of a personalised equipment plan.

Developing an assistive technology plan

A personalised assistive technology plan may include:

• low-cost items such as jar openers, reachers or dressing aids
• bathroom safety equipment
• mobility aids like walkers or lift chairs
• cognitive or memory supports
• communication and sensory devices
• smart-home systems
• home modifications
• powered or integrated transfer solutions for higher-support needs

The clinician will prepare supporting documentation for Home Care Packages, NDIS AT levels or state-based programs such as MASS Queensland, SWEP Victoria or EnableNSW.

When advanced assistive technology is recommended

During an assessment, a clinician may identify that some movements require more structured support to ensure safety and comfort. This often relates to guided tasks such as getting in and out of bed or moving between key areas of the home. In these situations, the occupational therapist may recommend advanced or complex assistive technology that provides consistent powered support and reduces the physical effort required from both the person and the carer.

Advanced options can include powered lifters, ceiling mounted systems or integrated transfer solutions. Systems like Behn are designed to support these more complex routines by helping a carer guide someone through essential daily movements in a controlled and comfortable way. This type of assistive technology can reduce manual handling risks and support safer everyday care at home.

A Room by Room Guide to Assistive Technology in the Home

A room-by-room approach helps families understand how different types of equipment support daily activities. This method is widely used by OTs.

Living room

Helpful assistive technology includes:

• electric lift chairs that assist with standing
• firm armrest chairs for stable support
• recliners designed for controlled transitions
• fall-alert pendants or watches
• simple remote controls with large buttons
• smart lighting controlled by voice or app
• weighted side tables that provide secure leaning support

Kitchen

The kitchen can be adapted with simple tools that promote safety and independence.

Useful aids include:

• kettle tippers
• jar and bottle openers
• angled or weighted cutlery
• non-slip mats
• chopping boards with stabilisers
• perching stools
• shelf and drawer organisers

Bathroom

Bathrooms carry some of the highest risks at home. Supportive equipment improves safety and confidence.

Common bathroom assistive technology includes:

• shower chairs or stools
• grab rails
• handheld shower heads
• non-slip flooring
• raised toilet seats
• bedside commodes
• toilet surrounds

When transfers require significant strength or two people, clinicians may explore powered solutions.

Bedroom

The bedroom is key to rest and daily routines.

Helpful equipment includes:

• electric adjustable beds
• pressure relieving mattresses
• bed poles or rails
• over-bed tables
• positioning wedges
• bedside commodes

For people who need significant help getting in and out of bed, integrated systems like Behn can support stable and consistent transfers.

Entryways and hallways

Small accessibility changes make a large difference.

Supportive AT includes:

• ramps and threshold plates
• sensor lighting
• handrails on both sides of stairs
• smart locks
• clear, uncluttered pathways

These upgrades align with Livable Housing Australia guidelines.

Communication Assistive Technology for Home Care

Communication support is an important part of assistive technology in the home. These tools help people stay connected, express their needs and participate in everyday decisions. They are often recommended for older adults, people living with disability and people who have changes in speech, cognition, hearing or vision.

Common communication tools used in home care

These are some of the most practical and widely used communication supports in Australian homes:

• amplified telephones that make conversations clearer
• large button phones that are easier to see and use
• tablets set up for simple video calls with family or carers
• text to speech tools that speak written words aloud
• speech to text tools that turn spoken words into text
• captioned calling for people with hearing changes
• communication cards or boards to support personal care routines
• hearing assistance devices that improve clarity during conversations
• voice assistants such as Alexa or Google that can make calls and set reminders

These tools help maintain everyday communication and reduce frustration for both the person and their carers.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Some people need extra support with communication because of conditions such as stroke, motor neuron disease, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, Parkinson’s disease or advanced dementia. In these situations, Augmentative and Alternative Communication can play an important role.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication refers to tools that support or replace spoken communication. These tools can help someone express their needs, feelings, choices and instructions during daily life at home.

Examples include:

• picture or symbol based communication boards
• communication books with common words or phrases
• tablet apps that speak selected words or sentences
• devices that generate speech when someone selects symbols or types text

These supports help people stay involved in daily routines and make it easier for carers to understand what the person wants or needs.

Visual and sensory communication supports

People with vision or hearing changes may benefit from tools that enhance clarity and awareness at home, including:

• magnifiers for reading or viewing labels
• high contrast markings on light switches and appliances
• talking clocks and calendars
• amplified or vibrating doorbells
• visual alert systems for alarms or timers
• large print communication aids

These tools help people navigate their home safely and communicate with more confidence.

Reviewing Assistive Technology as Needs Change

Assistive technology works best when it is checked regularly. A person’s mobility, comfort and daily routines can shift over time, and equipment that once felt right may need adjustment or replacement. Regular reviews help keep the home safe and ensure support remains aligned with the person’s abilities.

When to review equipment

A reassessment may be helpful if you notice:

• changes in mobility or balance
• reduced strength or increased fatigue
• new falls or near misses
• equipment that feels uncomfortable or difficult to use
• carers feeling strained or unsafe during transfers
• changes to the home environment
• a change in diagnosis or health status

An occupational therapist can update the assistive technology plan and recommend any modifications.

Adjusting or upgrading equipment

Sometimes a small modification is enough, such as adjusting heights or replacing worn parts. In other cases, new or more supportive equipment may be recommended. If a person’s mobility needs increase, a clinician may explore powered or integrated systems that offer more consistent support. Behn’s team can assist with quotes and functional information when higher-support options are needed.

Regular reviews ensure that assistive technology continues to evolve with the person’s needs, helping them stay safe, comfortable and confident at home.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Home

Assistive technology helps people remain at home with comfort and dignity. Small adaptations can make everyday life easier, while advanced systems support people with higher mobility needs. The overall goal is to create a home that feels safe, supportive and aligned with each person’s values and routines.

Some people need only simple aids. Others need a combination of mobility equipment, cognitive tools, sensory supports or smart-home devices. For those who need powered assistance with transfers, an integrated system such as Behn can support safe routines and reduce physical strain for carers.

A thoughtful assistive technology setup can provide a sense of confidence, comfort and independence for the person receiving care and peace of mind for those supporting them.