Occupational therapy
Making it easier for you to do daily activities.
What is it?
Assessment and advice in your own home to help you achieve maximum mobility and comfort at home. This may include installing equipment to help you feel safe and prevent falls.
Who can use this service?
Anyone. Call us for more information and to check if you can access this service.
Cost
There is a small fee for some of our services. Some of our services are free.
Check our fees here.
Do I need a referral?
Under 64 years
No, you do not need a referral to access this service.
65 years and over
Yes. You will need a referral from My Aged Care who will carry out an assessment.
Location
An occupational therapist will visit you at home.
Make a booking
Under 64 years
Call 1300 637 744 (MERRI H).
65 years and over
Call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Tell them you want Merri Health as your preferred provider.
More information
How can an occupational therapist help me?
They can:
- Assess and change things at home to improve your independence and safety.
- Provide advice and recommendations for equipment or modifications to the home for people with disabilities or mobility problems.
- Help identify risk factors for falls. This can include advice and education, home safety checks and referrals to other services.
- Provide advice to help with your routine tasks, such as bathing and dressing.
- Help you to adapt to changes that have happened due to chronic illness or ageing.
My parents are getting older and need help to shower and get dressed. How can an occupational therapist help them?
An occupational therapist can visit your parents at home to identify areas of difficulty. The occupational therapist may ask your parents to demonstrate how they step in and out of the shower or the bath, and the tasks they do whilst showering and dressing. From this observation and discussion with your parents, the occupational therapist may suggest modifications to the shower/bath to improve safety, may suggest the use of equipment to improve safety and conserving of energy, and may suggest alternative techniques to complete a task.
Do occupational therapists install rails?
After completing a home assessment, the occupational therapist may recommend the installation of rails and their location to assist in minimising the risk of falls in areas such as steps, shower and toilet. The occupational therapist does not install the rails but can link you with services that can install a rail.
Can an occupational therapist organise a wheelchair for my family member?
An occupational therapist is able to work with your family member to organise a wheelchair. There are many different wheelchairs available depending on your circumstances. For example, there are wheelchairs for community outings and wheelchairs for everyday activities. The occupational therapist can work with your family member to identify appropriate wheelchair options, trial wheelchairs and explore funding options.
Where can I get more information about this service?
Call 1300 637 744 (MERRI H) for information about eligibility and advice on which service can support you with your needs.
This service is funded by the Victorian Government