WeHSA is an assessment tool for occupational therapists to identify home fall hazards for older adults. WeHSA comprises 245 items and 72 hazard categories, including driveways, steps, ramps, night-lighting, stairs, floor coverings, etc. The housing quality indicators the tool assesses include indoor air quality, air conditioning, heating, lighting and accessibility.
Health status and risk factors Disability, Functional decline, Fall risk
Age group Older Adults
Assessor Occupational therapist
Sections / items 72 sections; 245 items
Self-administered No
Multi-component No
Indicators Indoor air quality; heating; lighting; accessibility
Evidence Level 6 - Case Report
Authors Clemson, L., Fitzgerald, M. H., Heard, R., Cumming, R. G.
Publication date 1999
Clemson, L., Fitzgerald, M. H., & Heard, R. (1999). Content validity of an assessment tool to identify home fall hazards: The Westmead Home Safety Assessment. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(4), 171EP-179. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/030802269906200407
Clemson, L., Fitzgerald, M. H., Heard, R., & Cumming, R. G. (1999). Inter-rater reliability of a Home Fall Hazards Assessment Tool. The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 19(2), 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1177/153944929901900201