Home Modifications for Aged Care in Australia — The AT-HM Scheme Explained

A parent's home becomes increasingly unsafe as mobility and cognition decline. Loose rugs, bathtubs without rails, narrow doorways that can't fit a walker — these hazards turn a familiar house into a fall risk. Under the Support at Home program, the Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) scheme funds safety changes without touching the parent's ongoing care budget.

How the AT-HM Scheme Works

The AT-HM scheme is a separate funding stream that sits alongside the parent's quarterly Support at Home classification budget. This is the critical distinction — modifications don't come out of the money allocated for cleaning, personal care, and nursing. The parent doesn't have to choose between a grab rail and a weekly shower visit.

To access AT-HM funding, the parent needs to:

1. Hold an active Support at Home classification (any level, 1–8)
2. Have the modification recommended by their care plan or an allied health professional (typically an occupational therapist)
3. Get approval through their registered provider

The provider coordinates the modification, engages contractors, and manages the claim.

What's Covered

Assistive technology includes:

• Mobility aids (walkers, wheelchairs, scooters)
• Shower chairs and bath transfer benches
• Raised toilet seats and commodes
• Hospital-style beds and pressure mattresses
• Personal alarm systems and fall detectors
• Hearing amplification devices

Home modifications include:

• Grab rails in bathrooms, hallways, and beside beds
• Ramps for step-free entry
• Widened doorways for wheelchair access
• Walk-in shower conversions (replacing bathtubs)
• Non-slip flooring installation
• Improved lighting in high-risk areas
• Stair lifts or platform lifts

The modifications must be specifically related to the parent's assessed functional needs. A general kitchen renovation doesn't qualify, but replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower for someone assessed as a falls risk does.

Fee Caps on Provider Charges

The government has set strict limits on what providers can charge for coordinating AT-HM work:

• Assistive technology: Provider administration and coordination fees capped at 10% of the item cost, maximum $500
• Home modifications: Provider administration and coordination fees capped at 15% of the modification cost, maximum $1,500

Any provider charging above these caps is in breach. If a grab rail installation costs $800, the provider can charge at most $80 in administration fees on top. If a bathroom conversion costs $12,000, the coordination fee cap is $1,500.

Getting an Occupational Therapy Assessment

Most AT-HM approvals start with a home visit from an occupational therapist (OT). The OT assesses the home environment alongside the parent's functional limitations and recommends specific modifications.

This OT visit is itself a clinical service — fully government-funded under the Support at Home program with 0% co-contribution. Ask the care provider to schedule one early. Common outcomes include:

• A falls risk assessment identifying specific hazards
• Recommendations for grab rail placement (height, location, type)
• Bathroom modification plans
• Equipment trials (testing different walker styles, shower chairs)
• A written report supporting the AT-HM funding application

Timing Considerations

AT-HM modifications can take weeks to months depending on complexity. A grab rail installation might happen within two weeks. A bathroom conversion or ramp construction can take 6–12 weeks from OT assessment to completion.

Start the process early — ideally during the Support at Home waitlist period, while interim funding (60% of the approved classification budget) is active. The OT assessment and AT-HM application can proceed in parallel with other care setup.

For a complete provider selection scorecard and care plan template that includes AT-HM planning, see the Australia Home Care Guide.

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