YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
For Well-Informed Home Modification Decisions
I DON'T NEED ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES IN MY HOME. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?
Often, our homes require us to work harder than we realize. Hard-to-reach items, narrow doorways, obstacles in the home - they can all seem like things to just deal with as part of staying where you are. A home modification assessment can help identify some easy, and perhaps some not so easy but beneficial ways to make changes to your home. This will give you the information you need to make decisions about what you could do to make your home more accessible.
Another area to consider is visitability - can your loved ones visit you in your home? Can the get up the stairs to enter? Can they use your bathroom while visiting? I can work with you to make your home accessible to everyone that you care about.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSESS MY HOME?
Occupational therapists are trained to assess a person, their environment, and how they interact within a specific environment to perform the daily activities they want and need to do. Occupational therapists can individually assess each person for medical-related issues or current conditions that may lead to a decline in their ability to do meaningful activities, and make recommendations for modifications to lifestyle or environment to help people keep doing what they love. Occupational therapists are holistic and can make the connection between the human level of abilities a person possesses and the built environment in which they live.
WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?
Ela Dupont is a licensed and registered occupational therapist. She is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. She has completed and passed a National Association of Home Builders program for the residential aging in place remodeling industry. She received her Executive Certificate in Home Modification from the University of Southern California. Her undergraduate education allowed her to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University. Her graduate education allowed her to obtain a Master's Degree in business administration, as well as a graduate certificate in health care administration at Champlain College. She is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, the American Occupational Therapy Association, and the Vermont Occupational Therapy Association. She volunteers with Rebuilding Together*Greater Burlington, and is passionate about helping people stay in their homes whenever safely possible.