Perceived effects of home renovation on independence of physically disabled Koreans living at home

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to identify the potential effects of home renovation on independence promotion of physically disabled Koreans living at home.

Method: The method of the study is a survey with a questionnaire; subjects are physically disabled people living at home in rural and urban areas in Korea. The Functional Independence Measure was used to measure changes in subjects’ levels of independence.

Results: It was expected that if homes were renovated according to individual needs, disabled people’s independence level would be increased by one or more level compared to their current daily independence level in their existing homes. In particular, independence levels concerning bathing and locomotion, which are low in existing conditions, were expected to increase significantly with renovation. Such effects on independence level were conspicuous for disabled people in rural area.

Conclusion: The results prove the positive effects of home renovations of disabled people’s independence, thus providing meaningful academic evidence on home renovations for disabled people.

Implication for rehabilitation

• Korea had a culture where support measures to aid the life independence of disabled persons relied heavily on human services, leading to a lack of diversity in support measures. By closing the gap between the resident’s disability and the inadequacy in their prevailing environment, house remodeling can be a crucial intervention for improving the independence of disabled persons in their daily lives.

• Depending on the nature of their disabilities and their residential arrangements, disabled persons have diverse needs regarding home remodeling. Implementing home remodeling in such a manner that suits the resident’s needs is crucial to boosting their independence. Because of this, remodeling personnel must interact with residents prior to the renovation while also strengthening their expertise.

Keywords:

• Independent living
• home renovation
• physically disabled people

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant [16AUDP-B068892–04#] from Residential Environment Research Program funded by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korean government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.