I'm interested to hear from any COTAs working in the area of Home Assessments/Modifications.  How did you get started?  Are you doing it for a Rehab/SNF employer?  Has anyone gone through the AbilitiesOT continuing ed classes?  Was it valuable? And most importantly are you enjoying it?

 Thanks

Melanie

Melanie,

     Yes I am a COTA who has taken the Abilities OT course and I also completed the Home Mods certificate program sponsored through USC(Homemods.org). Myself and another COTA are currently working on establishing our own business the need in our community is definetly there we are having a hard time getting started but we continue to work on it. Both programs were worth it. You definetly get more from the Home mods course as it is spread over 5 modules each approx. 2 weeks long the abilities course was a lot of info in only 2 days as I didn't sign up to continue with mentoring program. My advice is if you are really interested go for it as it as an excellent opportunity for COTA's.

Richard

Thank you!  I will definitely look into the USC course.  Have you considered getting on a PRN list for area SNF's to call when a patient is being sent home alone or with little assistance?  They're usually to swamped to do the home visits themselves.  Where are you located?  I also wanted to get involved with the area Center for Independent Living, have you tried that?  I'm sure you have already had all of these ideas.  I was wondering about the mentoring offered through abilitiesOT.  Why didn't you continue with it?  The cost? 

 

Hi Melanie, I have been doing home modification for some time now. This is a very rewarding field but a very difficult arena to break into. I am always looking for individuals to assist me in evaluations on a national level if you are interested. I also went through the USC(Homemods.org) certificate program, I would really recommend this program also. Unfortunatly when I joined this forum I mistakenly put in the wrong e-mail address but for now if you would like to reach me you can always e-mail me at jackie.dzugen@bellsouth.net until I get this corrected. I would like to know more about the SNF list you were talking about.

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Jackie Dzugen
Accessibility Consultant