I wanted to talk to you (the client) about having your home looked at by a home modification specialist. Many individuals will at sometime or another need recommendations as to how to modify a present or a future home secondary to a injury or disease process. Some individuals will want to modify their homes because they want to age in place and are looking to their later years in life. Whatever the reason, it will be important to know who it is that will be entering your home and performing a home evaluation. The recommendations on space relationships and specialty products will impact you and your family for a long time.
The home modification specialists maybe a medical practitioner (physical therapist, occupational therapist) or a non medical practitioner (contractor, architect, home designer, etc.). The client should ask questions as to the back ground of the individual(s), some of these questions are the following:
1) How long have you been performing evaluations?
2) What are your qualifications as a home evaluator? What training have you had in this type of work?
3) Who is paying for this evaluation and what relationship do you have with the payer source?
4) If the evaluator is a independent subcontractor and they are making recommendations, do they have a financial relationship with others involved in the project? (i.e. contractor, speciality vendors, etc.).
The client should ask for references from at least 2 to 3 previous clients that can verify the home modification specialists competence within this field. Just because the individual identifies himself or herself as a home modification specialists does not mean they know what they are doing. The old saying "buyer beware" applies here. These are just a few of the questions one might ask before allowing someone to enter their home and make life altering recommendations.
More information about home modifications can be found on our website at
http://www.shdesigns.net/.
Until the next time, God Bless.
Scott Anderle P.T.,C.A.P.S.