Question
What are the benefits of completing a wheelchair seating assessment in the home?
Answer
There are some benefits to completing a seating assessment in the home. One of the most significant benefits is that the clinician has the opportunity to serve clients who are homebound and unable to travel to an outpatient seating clinic. We can see people who otherwise would not have access to service.
The second is that the clinician can see the client's home environment to address accessibility challenges. Many times, there is an insufficient area for the patient to maneuver. We can address those issues and help them problem-solve to make them independent within their home.
Finally, we can interact with the whole family system and understand what activities are the most meaningful to the client and their caregiver(s). We can get a good idea of what the client likes to do and how and where they want to spend their time. A home assessment allows us to make informed decisions about what type of equipment will be the most effective. We can provide ongoing education and training to the client and the caregivers in their own environment.
