“What? That’s for Old People, that.” Home Adaptations, Ageing and Stigmatisation: A Qualitative Inquiry

Abstract

Older people, even those living with long-term conditions or poor mobility, can be supported to live well at home, through adapting their home to meet changing need. Installing home adaptations, from grab rails to walk in shower rooms, is cost effective, may prevent falls, reduce social isolation and improve self confidence. Despite austerity cuts to public spending, the UK government increased home adaptations’ funding. However, not much is known about older people’s experiences and understanding of acquiring and living with home adaptations and uptake of home adaptations could be improved. Using wearable camera and face to face interview data, this qualitative study explored a diverse group of older people’s retrospective experiences (n = 30). Focus group discussions were also carried out with a wide range of professionals involved in the provision of home adaptations (n = 39). Findings suggest people may delay having adaptations, because of perceived stigmatising associations with decline and vulnerability. As delaying the installation of home adaptations until crisis point is known to reduce their effectiveness, such associations need to be challenged.

Healthy Ageing in Place: Enablers and Barriers from the Perspective of the Elderly. A Qualitative Study

“…In a longitudinal study conducted in Australia, it was concluded that having adaptations at home was linked to ageing in place [ 18 ]. Notwithstanding, another study suggested that people may delay having adaptations, because of perceived stigmatising associations with decline and vulnerability [ 53 ]. Fear of stigmatisation related to adaptation work at home was not mentioned in the FG of the present study.…”

Smart homes for the older population: particularly important during the COVID-19 outbreak

“…According to the authors of this publication, the discussed issues concerning "smart home" solutions for the diagnosis and prevention of falls in the older population provide a new approach to 2. Smart home appliances control [37,38] 3. Assistive devices [39][40][41] 4. eHealth [42,43] 5.…”

“…Assistive devices [39][40][41] 4. eHealth [42,43] 5. Design and equipment of accommodation spaces customised to the needs of older people [25,[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Reumatologia 2021; 59/1 the practical methods of using innovations, arising from the development of artificial intelligence techniques, in everyday life.…”

“…Lighting in the room should imitate daylight following the circadian rhythm, i.e. to maintain consistent light and colour levels, affecting the endocrine system [ 37 , 38 ]. Smart control of home appliance and equipment increases seniors’ sense of security and comfort of use.…”

Perspectives on “Novel” Techniques for Designing Age-Friendly Homes and Neighborhoods with Older Adults

“…Including users in the design process as designers [6], an activity variously termed "participatory design" or "co-design", is thought to help ensure outputs better reflect users' requirements and ambitions [11], which in turn might increase an output's accessibility [12] and encourage its adoption/use. For example, recent research found that older adults often delay introducing home adaptations such as handrails and ramps, which can support independent living, because they find the design of these items stigmatizing and aesthetically unappealing [13][14][15]. Moreover, it is argued that it is intrinsically right to include those who are affected by a decision in the process of making that decision [16], a sentiment captured in the refrain, commonly used by disability rights advocates, "nothing about us without us" [17].…”