Housing adaptations and housing accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing spinal cord injury
(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
- Norin, Lizette LU ; Slaug, Björn LU ; Haak, Maria LU and Iwarsson, Susanne LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- 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 (>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}}, }