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Home occupational therapy · Home visits across Hong Kong

Home occupational therapy,
regaining self-care

Stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or simply growing older: when bathing, dressing and eating become hard, things the person used to manage, it does not mean they have to accept it. A registered occupational therapist visits and assesses and retrains each task one by one in the older person’s own home, and follows up cognition and home safety as well.

  • Hong Kong registered occupational therapists
  • Home visits across Hong Kong
  • 1 hour $1,000 · 1.5 hours or more $800 per hour
  • Multidisciplinary case manager system
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Home occupational therapy services in Hong Kong

Home occupational therapy means that a registered occupational therapist visits the patient at home to assess and train the ability to carry out daily life: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, cooking and shopping, as well as memory, attention and home safety. Common situations include rebuilding self-care after stroke, cognitive training and behaviour management in dementia, handwriting and fall prevention in Parkinson’s disease, the transition to self-care after fracture surgery, and home modification and assistive devices for older people in general.

Home occupational therapy is charged by the hour: HK$1,000 for 1 hour, and HK$800 per hour for 1.5 hours or more, with no minimum charge. We visit across Hong Kong, and the service is also provided at residential care homes and hospitals. The first visit does not begin with training. It begins with a full assessment (self-care, cognition and home safety), and the three-month goals are agreed with the family before training starts. If you are not sure whether an older person is suitable, ask a registered occupational therapist directly on WhatsApp.

Home occupational therapy · more than “care”

Common misunderstandings about home occupational therapy

The name “occupational therapy” is easily misunderstood. It does not mean helping people find a job, and it does not mean simply keeping older people busy with crafts. The expertise of an occupational therapist is to take daily activities that the person can no longer complete after illness or decline, and to break them down and teach them back one by one.

What people think it is
  • Helping people find a jobThe name misleads, and it has nothing to do with job-seeking
  • Keeping older people busy with craftsPaper folding is used to retrain hand and brain function
  • Cognitive decline cannot be trainedWithout training, decline is faster. Training does not aim to reverse decline. It aims to keep the abilities the person still has
  • Home modification means installing a grab barA grab bar in the wrong position will not be used by the older person either
What it is
  • Rebuilding tasksBreak bathing and dressing into steps that can be completed, and practise them again step by step
  • Cognition and behaviour followed up togetherMemory and attention training, with strategies for wandering and sundowning as well
  • Environment and habits adjusted togetherAssess the real paths used at home. Modification is complete only when training in how to use it is done too
  • Caregivers are taught tooTeaching family members to help appropriately, because helping too much makes the older person decline faster

The “occupation” in occupational therapy means every activity that fills a person’s time in daily routines: eating, bathing, cooking, writing and going out are all included. The aim of training is for the person to be able to do these activities themselves again.

How we work · focused on daily life

Key points of home occupational therapy

Home occupational therapy has four core types of intervention, and each targets one thing the person cannot do in daily life. The aim is to rebuild daily life one task at a time.

01

Rebuilding self-care in daily life (ADL)

Bathing, dressing, eating and toileting are assessed one by one, broken down into steps the person can complete, and practised again. Where needed, aids are provided and the method is adjusted. The practice takes place in the older person’s own bathroom and wardrobe, and not in a simulated setting.

CochraneLegg 2017 · Occupational therapy for ADL after stroke reduced death, deterioration and dependence (OR 0.71; low certainty of evidence)
02

Cognitive training and behavioural strategies

For people with dementia, the work ranges from memory and attention exercises to managing behaviours such as wandering and sundowning, and caregivers are taught how to respond. Training and strategies are carried out together.

RCTGraff 2006 · Home-based occupational therapy: 84% showed clinically significant improvement in daily function (9% in the control group)
03

Home modification and fall prevention

We assess lighting, flooring, grab-bar positions and the paths used in daily life, and modification is done together with training in how to use it. A modification that the older person does not know how to use has no value.

Cochrane · high certaintyClemson 2023 · Environmental interventions reduced falls by 38% in older people at high risk (RR 0.62), with better results when delivered by occupational therapists
04

Assistive devices and energy-saving strategies

From eating utensils and dressing aids to ways of saving effort, these help older people with limited energy to use their strength on the activities that matter most.

RCTSzanton 2019 · CAPABLE reduced ADL disability by 30% within five months (RR 0.70)

Why train at home

Home training settings for occupational therapy

Bathing has to be practised in the person’s own bathroom, and dressing with their own wardrobe. Self-care training cannot be moved into a clinic, which is why occupational therapy visits the home. About 47.7% of falls among community-dwelling older people in Hong Kong happen indoors (Fong 2011), and the danger is often in the most familiar place, the home.

Self-care training map of the older person’s home TRIGGER MAP

BathroomThe highest-risk self-care settingStanding in the bathtub, turning and preventing slips. The whole bathing routine is assessed in the real bathroom, and modification and training are done together.
Bedroom · wardrobeWhere dressing is practisedButtons, zips and socks: practising with the older person’s own clothes, with dressing aids provided where needed.
Kitchen · dining tableEating and cookingChoosing the right eating utensils and adjusting sitting posture. Where ability allows, the person can also relearn simple cooking.
Front door · corridorThe first hurdle for going outSetting off, opening the door and stepping over the threshold, broken down section by section along the older person’s real route in and out.
Teaching the caregiver on the spot:Helping appropriately takes judgement, because helping too much makes the older person’s self-care ability decline faster. The therapist teaches family members when to step in and when to hold back.

Research evidence

What does international research say about home occupational therapy?

Randomised controlled trial data EVIDENCE

84%of older people with dementia showed clinically significant improvement in daily functionOnly 9% in the control group; home and community occupational therapy (Graff et al., BMJ 2006)
↓ 38%Falls in older people at high risk of fallingRR 0.62, high certainty; better results when delivered by occupational therapists (Clemson et al., Cochrane 2023)
↓ 30%ADL disability in low-income older adultsWithin 5 months, RR 0.70 (CAPABLE; Szanton et al., JAMA Intern Med 2019)

Occupational therapy focused on daily life after stroke is also supported by Cochrane evidence (Legg 2017: death, deterioration or dependence OR 0.71), although the certainty of that evidence is low. These benefits have one thing in common: the intervention takes place in the patient’s own environment. Practising real tasks at home with everyday objects makes the training easier to carry over to daily life (the task-specificity principle of Kleim & Jones 2008).

If you are not sure whether home occupational therapy suits an older person, describe the situation and an occupational therapist will answer directly.

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What is different at Nova Health

Home occupational therapy supported by technology

There are many home occupational therapy services on the market, and the real difference is in how the service is carried out. Nova Health uses AI analysis, digital records and standardised data so that every step can be tracked and verified:

Multidisciplinary case manager system
Each case has an experienced therapist as case manager, who promotes teamwork and information sharing between occupational therapists, nurses, speech therapists and others.
Standardised assessment · electronic progress reports
Standardised tools are used for regular assessment (such as MoCA for cognition, the Berg scale for balance and the Barthel index for self-care). Scores are recorded electronically at once, the system generates charted progress reports automatically, and these are sent to the family every month, so progress and goals are clear at a glance.
AI-assisted medical analysis
De-identified case memory is analysed by AI, which flags trends and changes in risk in standardised assessment scores and helps the therapist update the care procedures and rehabilitation plans in the skills library. Medical history, assessments and progress data are combined for a fuller and deeper judgement, and personal identity is not disclosed.
Separate AI memory and skills system
With the client’s consent, the system builds for each client a case memory that keeps growing (covering medical history, standardised assessment scores and the record of every visit) and a dedicated skills library (holding that client’s care procedures and points to note). This lets every visiting staff member quickly understand the whole case and the client’s condition. Family members can log in to see all the stored data, so information stays in sync and nothing is missed in follow-up.

Home occupational therapy fees and service process

The questions people most want answered first about home occupational therapy are covered here in one place. For full fees, see the fees page.

Fees1 hour HK$1,000; 1.5 hours or more HK$800 per hour. A single session can be booked.
Service areaHome visits across Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories (private homes, residential care homes and hospitals). Remote areas may carry a $100–200 travel fee.
Who visitsA Hong Kong registered occupational therapist (registered with the Occupational Therapists Board), with a case manager (registered therapist or registered nurse) following the case throughout.
How to bookEnquire or book instantly on WhatsApp.
PaymentNo packages and no prepayment. Fees are transparent and the patient pays only for what is used. Payment by cash, FPS or bank transfer, and an official receipt is provided.

What happens at the first visit? The service process

Every patient starts with an assessment, is then matched with the most suitable therapist, and is followed up against measurable goals:

  1. 1
    WhatsApp or phone consultation
    The case manager first learns about the condition, the needs and the home environment, and gives initial advice and a quotation.
  2. 2
    First home assessment (intake)
    A full assessment of self-care (ADL), cognition, physical function, home safety and the risk of falls.
  3. 3
    Drawing up a personalised plan
    We discuss with the family, set long-term goals for three months and match the most suitable registered occupational therapist.
  4. 4
    Regular home training
    Training in the real home environment, with hazardous areas improved on the spot and the progress of every visit recorded in detail.
  5. 5
    Quarterly assessment and update
    Every three months a charted report compares progress and the goals are adjusted, so the family can see progress at a glance.

From basics to detail

Home occupational therapy service map

The pages below describe how each type of training is done in more detail.

By condition 01

Stroke occupational therapyRebuilding arm and hand function and ADL at home after a stroke

Self-care and hand function 01

Fine motor trainingGrip strength, coordination and fine motor training

Home occupational therapy FAQ · Fees and arrangements

Home occupational therapy FAQ

NOVA HEALTH・FAQ01 – 07
How are home occupational therapy fees calculated, and is there a minimum charge?

Occupational therapy costs HK$1,000 for 1 hour, and HK$800 per hour for 1.5 hours or more. There is no minimum charge, and a single session can be booked as needed. Travel is included in the main areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, and remote areas (such as outlying islands, Ma On Shan and Sai Kung) may carry a $100–200 travel surcharge. See the fees page for details.

Which areas of Hong Kong does home occupational therapy cover, and how far ahead should I book?

We visit across Hong Kong, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, including private homes, residential care homes and hospitals. We suggest booking 2 to 3 working days before the service so that we can arrange the most suitable therapist. In an urgent situation, we will do our best to arrange a visit on the same day or the next day. You can enquire and book instantly on WhatsApp.

Who provides home occupational therapy, and are they registered in Hong Kong?

The service is provided by Hong Kong registered occupational therapists (registered with the Occupational Therapists Board). Under our “matched specialty” system, a therapist with a Hong Kong Polytechnic University background or a registered nurse acts as case manager and follows the case throughout. Team members have many years of clinical or residential care experience.

What happens at the first occupational therapy assessment?

At the first visit we carry out a full assessment, including taking the history and understanding the physical condition, testing physical and cognitive function, assessing self-care in daily life (ADL), and checking the safety of the home environment and the risk of falls. We then discuss with the family, draw up a personalised rehabilitation plan and set long-term goals for three months.

Who or which conditions suit home occupational therapy?

Common situations include stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, decline in cognitive function, frailty in older people, recovery after fracture surgery, and older people who are at risk of falls or need home modification or training in daily self-care.

How is AI-assisted analysis used in home occupational therapy?

AI-assisted analysis is an optional feature. With the client’s consent, de-identified case data is analysed by AI, which flags trends and changes in risk in standardised assessment scores (such as MoCA, Berg and Barthel) to help the registered therapist adjust the care procedures and the rehabilitation plan. The final clinical judgement is always made by the registered therapist, and AI only assists.

Does using AI analysis put personal privacy at risk?

No. All data sent for AI analysis is de-identified, with information that could identify a person removed. AI analysis is optional, and the client chooses whether to switch it on when signing the terms of service. Not switching it on does not affect any other service. The original data can be viewed by staff and family members through a login system, and only with the client’s consent.

If an older person can no longer manage a particular task, we can start by practising that task.

WhatsApp us free · instant quote

1 hour $1,000 · 1.5 hours or more $800 per hour · no minimum charge · Fees for all services

Disclaimer: This article is general health information and is not professional medical advice. If you have any health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

References

  1. Legg, L. A., Lewis, S. R., Schofield-Robinson, O. J., et al. (2017). Occupational therapy for adults with problems in activities of daily living after stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (7), CD003585. PubMed
  2. Graff, M. J. L., Vernooij-Dassen, M. J. M., Thijssen, M., et al. (2006). Community based occupational therapy for patients with dementia and their care givers: randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 333(7580), 1196. PubMed
  3. Clemson, L., Stark, S., Pighills, A. C., et al. (2023). Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3), CD013258. PubMed
  4. Szanton, S. L., Xue, Q. L., Leff, B., et al. (2019). Effect of a Biobehavioral Environmental Approach on Disability Among Low-Income Older Adults (CAPABLE): A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(2), 204–211. PubMed
  5. Kleim, J. A., & Jones, T. A. (2008). Principles of experience-dependent neural plasticity: implications for rehabilitation after brain damage. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51(1), S225–S239. PubMed
  6. Fong, K. N. K., Siu, A. M. H., Yeung, K. A., et al. (2011). Falls among the community-living elderly people in Hong Kong: a retrospective study. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 21(1), 33–40. DOI