Design standards and disability: Limitations in personcentred home modifications

Falls are a significant problem for older adults which affect their ability to maintain their independence and remain living at home. Home modifications are a common method to prevent falls. Fall prevention service providers follow the Australian Standard 1428.1 Design for access and mobility as a design guideline in the retrofitting of residential dwellings. However, there are issues linked to the application of this standard within the context of person-centred fall prevention. Within this paper, the barriers and problems linked to the application of AS 1428.1 are investigated amongst fall prevention industry professionals.