Moving into new housing designed for people with disability: preliminary evaluation of outcomes

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the change in individual outcomes for people with disability and complex needs after moving into newly built, individualised apartments in the community.

Methods

People with disability (neurological disorder or cerebral palsy) and complex needs (n = 15, aged 18–65 years) completed quantitative self-report measures over two time-points (pre-move and 6–24 months post-move). Pre-move living arrangements included group homes, residential aged care, private rentals, and living with parents. Post-move living arrangements were individualised apartments built for people with disability. Health, wellbeing, community integration, and support needs were compared across pre- and post-move timepoints.

Results

Paired sample t-tests showed significant improvements consistent with large effects in wellbeing (p = 0.031, Eta²=0.29) and community integration (p = 0.008, Eta²=0.41), particularly home integration, and a trend towards improved health (p = 0.077, Eta²=0.21). A Wilcoxon signed rank test demonstrated a trend towards reduced support needs (z= −1.941, p = 0.052) consistent with a medium effect (r = 0.35) and an average decrease of 2.4 support hours per participant per day.

Conclusions

Well-located housing with appropriate design, technology and support provision makes a positive contribution to wellbeing, community integration, and health for people with complex disability.

Implications for rehabilitation

• People with disability who move into individualised apartments experience significant positive change in health, wellbeing, and participation.

• Findings highlight the benefits of housing that foster independence and enable personal choice and control.

• Evidence suggests that investment in appropriately designed and well-located housing has positive outcomes for people with disability.

• Evidence collected within this outcome framework has the potential to ensure models of housing and support that are responsive to the diverse and changing needs of people with disability.

Keywords:

• Disability
• housing
• health
• wellbeing
• participation
• support
• evidence based design

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the many people who contributed to this research, including all the primary research participants and close others who generously provided their time to complete the study. We would like to thank Jacqui Naismith, Donna Wakim, Liz Williams, Elizabeth Beadle, Margaret Johnston, Anna Ewan, Sophie Moore, Megan Topping, and Ella-Rose Minter for their valuable contribution to the project.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.