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Occupational Therapy for Older Adults
Keep doing what matters to you.
Support to stay safe and independent at home.
Occupational Therapy helps older adults keep doing the everyday things that matter, safely and independently, at home and for as long as possible. An Occupational Therapist looks at you, your activities, and your home, then suggests practical changes so daily life works better. This can include home safety, falls prevention, useful equipment, and support to stay in your own home.
An Occupational Therapist helps you keep doing the things that fill your day with meaning, from cooking your own meals to gardening to getting out to see friends. They look at three things together: you, the activity you want to do, and the place you do it in. Then they work with you to adjust whatever needs adjusting, so the activity becomes safe and doable again.
That might mean a new way of doing a task, a handy piece of equipment, a small change to the home, or linking you in with other support. The point is never to take over. It is to help you stay in charge of your own day.
Staying independent at home
For referrers
How to get Occupational Therapy
There’s more than one way in, depending on your age and situation.
- Through My Aged Care. For people over 65, My Aged Care is the main way to access government-funded support at home, including Occupational Therapy. Your GP or My Aged Care can start the process.
- Through the NDIS. For eligible people under 65, Occupational Therapy can be funded in an NDIS plan.
- Through Medicare. Your GP can set up a Chronic Condition Management Plan, which helps with the cost of a set number of allied health sessions a year.
- Through private health, or privately. Many extras policies contribute to Occupational Therapy, or you can book directly.
Not sure which applies to you? Call us on 1800 678 647 and we’ll help you work it out.
Call us on 1800 678 647 & we’ll help you work it out.
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How Occupational Therapy helps older adults
What this looks like at home
01
Daily living and home safety
A lot of what an Occupational Therapist does is very practical. They look at the everyday tasks that have become harder, like getting in and out of the shower, dressing, or cooking, and find ways to make them easier and safer.
Around the home, that can mean rails in the bathroom, a ramp at the front step, better lighting, or rearranging things so what you use most is within easy reach. Bathroom and toilet changes get particular care, because they’re about dignity and privacy, not just safety. Any equipment is chosen with you and for your life, never forced on you.
02
Falls prevention
A fall, or the worry about one, can really shrink someone’s world. An Occupational Therapist can help by checking your home for hazards and making changes that lower the risk, like securing rugs, adding grab rails, improving lighting, and sorting out clutter on stairs.
For older people at higher risk of falls, such as those who have had a fall in the past year or recently spent time in hospital, research shows that an Occupational Therapist checking the home and making changes can reduce falls. we often team up with a Optimum Health Solutions Physiotherapist to improve strength and balance.
03
Ageing in place
Most people want to stay in their own home as they get older, surrounded by their own things and memories. Occupational Therapy is a practical way to make that possible for longer.
By looking at what’s getting in the way and finding practical fixes, an Occupational Therapist can help you keep living independently at home, while also giving family and carers the information and confidence they need to support you well.
04
Living with dementia
Dementia can change how familiar tasks feel at home. For example, the kettle that has always sat in the same spot, the steps down to the back door, or the order of getting ready in the morning can all start to take more effort. At Optimum, our Occupational Therapists will look at the routines that matter most to you and to the people around you, and suggest ways to keep them familiar and safe.
That could mean a small change in the kitchen, a clearer path through the house, or a routine written down where everyone can see it. We focus on what you can still do and enjoy, and we work with your family and carers as part of the team. Nothing changes without you being part of the decision.
05
Equipment and assistive technology
There can be many at home falls risks for older adults. For example, a shower chair that does not fit the shower properly, a walker set at the wrong height, or a rail on the wrong side of the door. At Optimum, our Occupational Therapists will discuss how you actually get through your day, from getting out of bed to leaving the house, and only then will we make recommendations.
We will show you the options, tell you plainly what each one does and what your funding may cover, and you decide what comes into your home. If you would rather do without, we listen. The equipment is there to fit your life, not the other way around.
05
Respect, dignity, and your choices.
We start from a simple belief: ageing is a normal part of life, and getting older does not make anyone less of a person or less entitled to choose how they live. That belief shapes every visit. Our Occupational Therapists will ask what matters to you, what is already working, and what you would like to keep doing, before anything else is suggested.
You stay in charge of the decisions, at every step. Our job is to give you good options and honest advice, explain what each one means for your day, and then back the choice you make. If the answer is no, that is a decision we respect too.
NDIS
Referrals
How we help
Optimum Health Solutions provides Occupational Therapy as one of eight supports under one roof, alongside Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology, Exercise Physiology, Dietetics, Podiatry, Positive Behaviour Support and Nursing.
For older adults, that means your Occupational Therapist can team up with a Physiotherapist for strength and balance, or a Dietitian for nutrition, so your support joins up around you. We follow your goals and your pace, and we treat your home as your home.
We see people in the clinic, at home, and by telehealth. Home visits are often the most useful, because we can see exactly how your day works where you live.
An Optimum Health Solutions Occupational Therapist works on function, safety, and daily life. However you should see your GP about these:
- A new symptom, a sudden change, or a possible new health condition.
- Any medical concern, including changes in mood, memory, or pain that need checking.
- A medication review, if your tablets might be affecting your balance or alertness.
We work alongside your GP and the rest of your team, and we’ll help connect you with them when that’s the right step.
12 clinics across NSW & Tasmania
Email us
hello@opt.net.au
Speak to us
1800 678 647
Get in Touch.
Where to Access This Support
[EDIT: locations intro for this page – the template line named the condition and its home/school/telehealth availability, which varies by service.]
Common questions about Occupational Therapy for older adults
How does Occupational Therapy help the elderly?
What does an Occupational Therapist do for older adults?
Can Occupational Therapy help prevent falls?
How can I stay in my own home as I get older?
Is Occupational Therapy for older adults covered by funding?
Can an Occupational Therapist help someone with dementia?
Reviewed by Sarah-Louise higgins
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