To stay or to move: Factors influencing housing choices by people with neurodegenerative disorders who want to continue living in the community
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Law
School
School of Accounting, Finance and Economics
RAS ID
5552
Abstract
Aim: The study objective was primarily to investigate and estimate the current and future home support needs of adults with Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkin-son’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease who are living in the community. In addition the study examined the housing design issues faced by this group of people.Method: The study had six components including a postal survey of members of support agencies and clients of home care service providers (n = 1,095) to identify (then) current home care support services and gaps in services, disaggre-gated by type and stage of disorder and living arrangements. Respondents were also asked about their type of housing, home ownership, home modifications and whether or not they had moved house and why.The survey data were used to interpret Lawton’s (1989) model of environmental gerontology in a way that is directly relevant for this group of people. The paper also compares the features of homes that some people choose to move to with the modifications other people make to their existing homes.Results: The data showed an inverse relationship between the number of home changes (a composite measure based on the number of housing modifications and the number of reasons for moving) and mobility. This result supports Lawton’s model
Comments
Karol, E., & Giles, M. (2008). To stay or to move: Factors influencing housing choices by people with neurodegenerative disorders who want to continue living in the community. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27, A11. Abstract only available.