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Strategies for evaluation of housing adaptations - Accessibility, usability and ADL dependence

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Housing adaptation is a common intervention, in Sweden granted by municipal authorities, and performed in order to remove environmental barriers and enhance daily activities. In spite of increasing costs, efficient strategies for evaluation of the intervention are lacking. In this thesis, occupational therapy clients living in a south Swedish municipality and receiving housing adaptation grants were followed over time in a housing adaptation process. The overarching aim was to generate knowledge useful for development of strategies for evaluations of housing adaptations. A multi-dimensional methodology for assessing and analysing housing accessibility, usability in housing, and ADL dependence on the client level was developed, optimised, and applied. In particular, the Usability in My Home instrument developed in this thesis represents a novel approach to assessment in relation to housing adaptations. A complex pattern of improvements and declines over time was found. Accessibility and usability improved, and dependence in the activity of bathing decreased. The prevalence of functional limitations and dependence on mobility devices among clients increased, while the number of environmental barriers in their homes declined. Even if several outcome dimensions remain to be investigated, the methodology seems useful for systematic evaluation of housing adaptations, and implementations for practice and research on client, group and population levels are discussed. The results have practical implications for occupational therapy and for public planning of accessible and usable housing. Recommendations useful for practitioners aiming at evaluating housing adaptations are given, and further research needs are outlined.

Publishing year

2004

Language

English

Document type

Dissertation

Publisher

Division of Occupational Therapy, PO Box 157, 221 00 Lund, Sweden,

Topic

  • Occupational Therapy

Keywords

  • Physical medicine
  • kinesitherapy
  • Rehabilitering (medicinsk och social)
  • revalidation
  • rehabilitation

Status

Published

Research group

  • Sustainable occupations and health in a life course perspective

Supervisor

  • [unknown] [unknown]

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 91-974281-5-9

Defence date

19 March 2004

Defence time

09:15

Defence place

Hörsal 1, Vårdvetenskapens Hus, Baravägen 3, Lund

Opponent

  • Laura N. Gitlin (Professor)