Satisfaction with Housing and Housing Support for People with Psychiatric Disabilities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of satisfaction with housing and housing support for people with psychiatric disabilities in Sweden. A total of 370 residents, in supported housing and in ordinary housing with housing support, completed a new questionnaire and reported a high degree of overall satisfaction, but many of them wanted to move somewhere else. Differences were found between the two different types of housing concerning satisfaction with housing support, social life and available choices. Security and privacy, as well as other's influence on the choice of residential area and dwelling proved to be important predictors for satisfaction.

Residents' perceptions of the most positive and negative aspects of the housing situation for people with psychiatric disabilities

“…On the other hand, loneliness was among the worst. This latter finding concurs with previous studies in which social isolation and loneliness have been found to be common problems among people with psychiatric disabilities . The two findings from this study pinpoint a dilemma.…”

“…Thus, further research is needed in order to explore more nuances. Yet, the free format of the questions provided the respondents with the opportunity to freely express themselves, which revealed aspects and nuances that were not shown in the SHPD survey . The findings in ordinary housing about feeling safe and secure at home, but insecure in the neighbourhood, constitute a nuanced distinction from the residents’ satisfaction with security and privacy shown in the SHPD survey .…”

“…Satisfaction with housing for people with psychiatric disabilities has not previously been studied in Sweden on a large scale and a questionnaire Satisfaction with Housing and housing support for people with Psychiatric Disabilities (SHPD) was developed and validated for this purpose. The results of the first study using SHPD showed a generally high degree of satisfaction; that security and privacy were major predictors of overall satisfaction; and that there were differences in the results for residents in ordinary housing in comparison with those in supported housing facilities in terms of support services and social life . In order to also capture qualitative data from a large number of respondents in the questionnaire format in this study , two open‐ended questions were added about the best and worst in their current housing situation.…”

“…The results of the first study using SHPD showed a generally high degree of satisfaction; that security and privacy were major predictors of overall satisfaction; and that there were differences in the results for residents in ordinary housing in comparison with those in supported housing facilities in terms of support services and social life . In order to also capture qualitative data from a large number of respondents in the questionnaire format in this study , two open‐ended questions were added about the best and worst in their current housing situation. The major aim of the present study was thus to explore what people with psychiatric disabilities consider to be the best and the worst in their housing situation in order to further contribute to the body of knowledge concerning residents' perceptions of the housing situation for people with psychiatric disabilities.…”

Residents’ experiences of relationships with nurses in community-based supported housing – a qualitative study based on Giorgi’s method of analysis and self psychology

“…As in previous studies,6–10 participants said that they felt safer knowing they could ask staff for help in challenging situations and they considered their life as easier. At the same time, they were worried about being different from ordinary people, as also appeared in the study of Bengtsson-Tops et al9 So, is life safer and easier in supported houses because residents do not have to deal with certain difficult situations or is it because they get help finding their own strategies of coping with challenging situations?…”