Home environmental modification strategies used by caregivers of elders

Abstract

Although several definitions and categorizations of home environmental modification strategies exist, previous researchers have not addressed whether the conceptualizations developed by clinicians and researchers match the way families think about how they modify the home environment in order to provide care to frail elders. The aim of the analysis reported here was to describe, from the family's perspective, the home environmental modification strategies that they use. Twenty-four caregivers of community-dwelling elders with a variety of impairments were interviewed. Seventeen families provided guided tours of the elder's home and allowed selected observation of some caregiving activities. Forty-four modification strategies were identified and categorized into one of seven home environmental modification purposes: organizing the home, supplementing the elder's function, structuring the elder's day, protecting the elder, working around limitations or deficits in the home environment, enriching the home environment, and transitioning to a new home setting. More research is needed on the processes families use to generate and refine the home environmental modification strategies identified in this study.

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Family caregivers' conceptions of usage of and information on products, technology and Web-based services

“…With reference to the family caregivers, it is essential that the products and technology are useful, easy and smooth to use. Messecar et al [8] describe how family caregivers are often involved in, and support, their next of kin using assistive devices. This is confirmed by the informants in this study as necessary if their next of kin should be able to stay at home.…”

The Impact of the Physical Home Environment for Family Carers of People with Dementia: A Qualitative Study

“…An audit trail of all analytical stages was saved in QSR International's NVivo 10 Software. Although the analysis was data driven, previous research was used as a guidance to categorise the findings according to architectural and design principles (van Hoof & Kort, 2009) and home modifications (Messecar, Archbold, Stewart, & Kirschling, 2002;Pynoos, Steinman, Do Nguyen, & Bressette, 2012). The second author (PK) prepared the floor plans and spatial analysis.…”