Rick: Life before the accident for us was very, very different.

The modifications to our home just means that we're able to live far more independently than we were.

It means that we're able to shower. We're able to cook.

Carol: So my role was to look at what modifications would be required for optimal existence in the home.

Hysen: Once you have a site assessment with an occupational therapist, that all the client's specific needs and goals are assessed.

And from that you determine what additional works will need to be done.

Ornella: We can move around quite freely.

Carol was involved in letting us know what we could have and what we should have.

Rick: An uneven slate floor for instance. You need to have that replaced with a non-slip surface.

Carol: We walked around the home and we thoroughly discussed what the options might be.

And then we can look at brainstorming on the spot. We did everything on site, so that Ornella and Richard could be actively involved in that process.

Ornella: And they were very accommodating if we didn't like something. Or didn't think that we needed it, you know.

We'd work it out between all of us and we got what we were all happy with.

TAC clients Rick and Ornella talk about the home modifications process. We also hear about the role of their Occupational Therapist and the TAC's role in approving modifications.

Darren: My name's Darren Knight.

I'm currently away from home in Blairgowrie, while renovations on my home in Frankston are getting done.

I'm lucky to be in a nice area while it's all getting done.

Choosing where to stay was left to us to work out.

Where and when, and how we wanted to stay.

We had stayed at the Quest previously, which it felt like you were living in a bit of a box.

So we sort of looked around and then found this place.

And we thought, "Yeah, this is quite good."

At first finding a place to stay was a little bit daunting, because you think ah okay and that.

But then once you got good at googling, it's quite easy.

Especially in my situation, where you got to have a few mods and cons to make life a bit easier.

The only thing that changes is your address really.

Down here's like a little bit of a holiday I suppose.

The initial conversation of the mods started in February.

That was a general get together and we spoke about what was needed.

Then they went away and put all their thoughts together and then came back with a bit of a plan.

From then it was quite quiet for a little while.

I thought okay it'll be a while before anything happens.

September they came back and they virtually said "we'll be starting in a couple of weeks."

While I was in rehabilitation we did a home visit there, and from that home visit sort of worked out what had to change back then.

They put a portable bathroom in, outside which gave me accessibility there. We tried to work out a
ramp for the front door which the gradient was going to be too much for the space we had.

So they actually put in a lift. Apparently it was one of the first as well.

I feel privileged.

And yeah, made life very easy.

Transition from rehab to home wasn't too bad at all really.

With the bathroom, I could not get into the bathroom at all because of the width of the door.

Even if I did get access to the bathroom there was no... I couldn't get into the shower facility or anything.

With they kitchen I found it hard to access the sink. All the cupboard spaces were all up high of course, which made it hard to reach.

Cooking was very difficult because everything was right in your face.

You cook a sausage and you wore half of it before you got to eat it.

I think it was 50/50 thing with the decision making of the build.

Made it easy actually because I had ideas but I didn't know how it was going to work in practice and so forth.

They all threw in their ideas and made it very easy.

They brought various selection of samples so you could choose what you want.

My wife had a big input into what was going to be used which was good.

Made it easy for me.

Once that were chosen that was a couple of days later that it was all finalised to go ahead.

Looking forward to going home and being actually able to access the bathroom, which has been quite a while.

Then I've got to do a bit of cooking now, which is going to be interesting because my wife sets a pretty high standard in the cooking section.

So I'll have to up my game a bit I think.

Not been cooking or washing the dishes because I can't do it, I'm sure I'm going to have to put my hand into now.

TAC client Darren talks about his experience with TAC approved home modifications.