How CHSP Home Adjustments Support Ageing in Place
For many older Australians, staying in the home they know and love is an important part of maintaining independence, confidence and wellbeing.
As we age, changes in balance, strength and mobility can make everyday activities more difficult. Steps, slippery surfaces and bathrooms can become harder to navigate safely.
Through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), eligible older Australians can access subsidised home adjustments designed to improve safety and make everyday life easier.
For older Australians in Brisbane and Townsville, practical changes such as grabrails, handrails and small ramps can help create a safer and more accessible home environment.
What are CHSP Home Adjustments?
CHSP Home Adjustments are minor changes to the home that can improve safety, accessibility and independence.
Depending on a person’s needs and home environment, these may include:
Grabrails for additional support
Handrails along steps
Threshold ramps or step wedges
Box steps
Handheld showers
Lever taps
Non-slip treatments
These are often relatively small changes, but they can make everyday activities safer and easier to manage.
Home Adjustments vs Home Repairs & Maintenance
While both services can help older Australians remain safely at home, they serve different purposes.
Home Adjustments, provided under the CHSP home modifications service category, involve changes to the home environment to improve safety and accessibility. This may include installing grabrails, handrails, ramps or other recommended modifications.
Home Repairs & Maintenance focuses on minor repairs and maintenance that help keep the home safe, secure and functional.
Understanding the difference can help you identify which type of support may be appropriate for your needs.
Why Small Home Adjustments Can Make a Difference
Changes in mobility, balance or strength can make common household features more difficult to navigate. Bathrooms, entrances, steps and uneven surfaces can become
particular areas of concern.
Home adjustments aim to make these areas easier and safer to use.
For example, a well-positioned grabrail may provide additional support when using the shower, while a handrail or small ramp may make entering and leaving the home easier.
The right adjustment will depend on the individual, their daily activities and their home environment.
Supporting Ageing in Place
Ageing in place means being able to continue living safely and independently in your own home as you get older.
A home that is easier to move around can support everyday activities and help older people maintain their routines and independence.
Home adjustments may also make it easier for family members and carers to provide support where needed.
Rather than making unnecessary changes to the home, the aim is to identify practical solutions based on the person’s individual needs.
How LifeTec Can Help
LifeTec provides CHSP Home Adjustments in Brisbane and Townsville, helping eligible older Australians make practical changes to support safety and independence at home.
Our Occupational Therapists assess your home, discuss your needs and recommend appropriate adjustments.
Occupational Therapy assessment
An Occupational Therapist visits your home to understand how you move through your environment, identify potential safety concerns and recommend practical adjustments based on your needs.
Recommendations and quotation
We explain the recommended adjustments and arrange quotations for the proposed work. You will have the opportunity to discuss the recommendations and any client contribution before deciding whether to proceed.
There is no obligation to proceed with a recommendation.
Trusted installation
Once approved, the work is completed by LifeTec's team or appropriately qualified and licensed contractors, with guidance from your Occupational Therapist where required.
Support through to completion
Our team coordinates the process from assessment through to completion, helping make your home adjustments as straightforward as possible.
With more than 47 years of experience supporting Queenslanders, LifeTec combines Occupational Therapy expertise with practical home solutions to help older Australians live safely and confidently at home.
How to Access CHSP Home Adjustments
To access CHSP Home Adjustments, you will first need to be assessed through My Aged Care.
1. Start with My Aged Care
Contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit the My Aged Care website to discuss your needs and arrange an assessment.
2. Receive your referral
If you are eligible for CHSP Home Adjustments, you can receive a referral for the service.
3. Contact LifeTec
Once you have your referral, contact LifeTec and our team can guide you through the next steps, including arranging your Occupational Therapy home assessment.
Helping You Live Safely at Home
Your home should support the way you live.
Practical CHSP Home Adjustments can make everyday activities safer and easier, helping older Australians maintain independence and continue living in familiar surroundings.
If you or someone you support lives in Brisbane or Townsville and may benefit from CHSP Home Adjustments, talk to the LifeTec team.
Call: 1300 543 383
Email: mail@lifetec.org.au
Refer online: LifeTec Aged Care Referrals
