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Housing adaptations and housing accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing spinal cord injury

Norin, Lizette LU ; Slaug, Björn LU orcid ; Haak, Maria LU and Iwarsson, Susanne LU (2021) In British Journal of Occupational Therapy 84(12). p.765-774
Abstract

Introduction: Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (>10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method: Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings: Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers... (More)

Introduction: Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (>10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method: Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings: Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers that generated accessibility problems. The most common adaptations were ramps, wheelchair-accessible stovetops, and ceiling-lifts. Wall-mounted cupboards and high shelves (kitchen), inaccessible storage areas (outside the dwelling), and a lack of grab bars (hygiene area) generated the most accessibility problems. Conclusion: Despite housing adaptations, there are considerable accessibility problems in the dwellings of older adults with long-standing spinal cord injuries in Sweden, indicating that long-term follow-up of the housing situation of this population is necessary. Focusing on accessible housing as a prerequisite for occupational performance is at the core of occupational therapy, deserving attention on the individual as well as the societal level.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Built environment, home modification, Housing Enabler, occupational therapy, paraplegia, person–environment fit, tetraplegia
in
British Journal of Occupational Therapy
volume
84
issue
12
pages
765 - 774
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85097975659
ISSN
0308-0226
DOI
10.1177/0308022620979516
project
Housing Enabler
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0a59bdff-0cf5-447e-8041-f75ab66ffd5d
date added to LUP
2021-01-11 09:46:18
date last changed
2022-05-04 22:48:42
@article{0a59bdff-0cf5-447e-8041-f75ab66ffd5d,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (&gt;10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method: Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings: Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers that generated accessibility problems. The most common adaptations were ramps, wheelchair-accessible stovetops, and ceiling-lifts. Wall-mounted cupboards and high shelves (kitchen), inaccessible storage areas (outside the dwelling), and a lack of grab bars (hygiene area) generated the most accessibility problems. Conclusion: Despite housing adaptations, there are considerable accessibility problems in the dwellings of older adults with long-standing spinal cord injuries in Sweden, indicating that long-term follow-up of the housing situation of this population is necessary. Focusing on accessible housing as a prerequisite for occupational performance is at the core of occupational therapy, deserving attention on the individual as well as the societal level.</p>}},
  author       = {{Norin, Lizette and Slaug, Björn and Haak, Maria and Iwarsson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{0308-0226}},
  keywords     = {{Built environment; home modification; Housing Enabler; occupational therapy; paraplegia; person–environment fit; tetraplegia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{765--774}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{British Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
  title        = {{Housing adaptations and housing accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing spinal cord injury}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308022620979516}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/0308022620979516}},
  volume       = {{84}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}