Home modification among families with older adults with disability in Korea

Abstract

This study explores psychosocial factors related to the use of home modification among older adults with disabilities and their caregivers in Korea. Using in-depth interviews, this study elaborates specific socio-cognitive factors leading to home modification from the multiple perspectives of care recipients, family caregivers and home care helpers. The study findings are theoretically organised into four domains: structural factors, care recipients’ service needs, socio-cognitive factors, and enabling resources. Practice and policy implications are discussed in the context of underdeveloped housing policies for ageing-in-place in Korea.

Keywords:

• Environmental ageing
• home modification
• gerotechnology
• ageing-in-place
• long-term care

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Center for Social Welfare (CSW) at Sungkyunkwan University in completing this project. The CSW also assessed and monitored the human subject review and compliance procedure of this study.