Environmental Assessments

An Environmental Assessment is conducted for individuals of all ages who may be experiencing challenges in maintaining safety and independence at home. The primary purpose of the assessment is to identify home safety and accessibility concerns and to recommend appropriate solutions.

• Identify home safety and accessibility concerns and recommend practical solutions to address those concerns
• Promote greater independence
• Enhance accessibility within the home
• Improve safety for caregivers
• Increase ease of access for caregiving tasks
• Reduce fall risk
• Offer tailored solutions to help create a safer environment for individuals with heightened vulnerability, such as those living with dementia or autism
• Fulfill Medicaid Waiver Program requirement necessary to apply for home modifications funding

Once clients have chosen Senior Smart as their assessment provider and the state has approved the service, their Support Planner will notify Senior Smart that services were approved. Senior Smart will then contact the client/client’s representative to schedule the assessment. During the visit, Senior Smart Occupational Therapist, Dan Mack, will interview the client and/or client’s representative to gain insight into the client’s abilities, health conditions, fall history, family support, and other relevant factors. With the client’s permission, he will then walk through the home to assess the environment and identify potential risks or barriers. At the conclusion of the visit, Dan will explain and discuss his recommendations with the client and/or the client’s representative.

Following the visit, Dan will prepare a comprehensive report that includes the recommendations that were discussed during the visit, and the report will be submitted to the State for the Support Planner to review and discuss with the client. The Support Planner will then advocate for the implementation of the necessary home modifications by requesting quotes for recommendations that the client wishes to pursue.

Senior Smart proudly provides EAs for approved Maryland Waiver Program participants throughout the entire state.

At this time, Senior Smart does not provide assessments for DDA participants or private clients.

Senior Smart has been providing Environmental Assessments for participants of the Maryland Waiver Program since 2011. Over the years, we have helped thousands of clients overcome safety challenges and environmental barriers in their homes.

Occupational Therapist Dan Mack has more than 30 years of professional experience, with a career largely focused on home safety and accessibility. In addition to his clinical background, Dan is a former licensed Maryland Home Improvement Contractor with years of experience doing home modifications such as ramp installations, stairlifts, grab bars, door widenings, and more. This unique combination of hands-on home adaptation background and extensive healthcare knowledge allows Dan to accurately identify safety risks and recommend practical, effective solutions tailored to each individual’s needs.

Clients should inform their Support Planner that they would like to have an environmental assessment and that they have selected Senior Smart as their preferred provider.  The Support Planner will then list Senior Smart on the Plan of Service and contact us for the necessary signatures.

• An interview to gather information about the client’s health, abilities, and daily routines
• A discussion with the client and/or family members about specific home safety and accessibility concerns
• A walkthrough of the home focusing on areas where concerns have been identified
• With permission, measurements and photographs will be taken to assist in making appropriate recommendations
• A summary discussion to review identified concerns and explore possible solutions

Please note: Only areas in the home that are relevant to the client’s needs will be assessed. Areas that the client does not use or wish to access will not be assessed.

Per MDH guidelines, the following items are not included in EA recommendations:

• General home maintenance or repair issues
• Home improvement projects not related to safety or accessibility
• Recommendations involving expansion of the home beyond its current footprint
• Recommendations for more than one accessible entrance (per Maryland Medicaid Waiver Program guidelines)
• Video monitors or home security systems
• Ongoing updates or revisions to the assessment after it is submitted
• Recommendations for specific contractors to complete the proposed home modifications

Senior Smart will prepare a detailed report that outlines areas of concern and recommended solutions. This report will be submitted to the State, and the client’s Support Planner will be notified once it is available, typically within one week of the visit.

After the EA report is submitted, Senior Smart’s involvement in the process is complete.  The client’s Support Planner is responsible to contact approved contractors who may be willing to provide quotes for the recommended home modifications.

Please note: Senior Smart does not recommend specific adaptations providers.

With the guidance of Senior Smart during the environmental assessment visit, it is very important that clients discuss all their home safety and accessibility concerns. However, because we respect our clients’ privacy, only the areas that are identified as concerns during the visit will be assessed. If a client chooses not to have certain areas evaluated, recommendations for those spaces cannot be made once the assessment is completed.

Also, because health conditions and living situations can change over time, it is Senior Smart’s policy that no revisions will be made to the environmental assessment report if more than 60 days have passed since the assessment was done.

After Senior Smart submits the environmental assessment report, our involvement in the process is complete. The Support Planner will need to request quotes for the recommendations made, then those recommendations and their corresponding costs must be reviewed and approved by the State. Based on our experience, the process of approval and completion of home modifications can take several months.  For updates on the status of home adaptations, clients should contact their Support Planner.

No. If the State approves the recommended home adaptations, the costs will be covered through the client’s benefits as a Waiver participant. State-approved home improvement contractors will never request payment from a participant.

Yes! Senior Smart can assist clients in making informed decisions about modifications for rental properties.  In many cases, effective solutions can be implemented without making permanent changes.

In most cases, landlords are willing to allow reasonable modifications to meet a client’s home safety and accessibility needs. Tenants have rights under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), which provides protections related to accessibility. However, it is important to understand the specific guidelines and responsibilities involved before proceeding with any rental property modifications