Housing adaptations from the perspectives of Swedish occupational therapists

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how occupational therapists in Sweden administer housing adaptation cases, how they perceive the housing adaptation process, and which improvements they consider necessary. Methods: A total of 1 679 occupational therapists employed by the county councils or the local authorities (and involved in housing adaptations) participated in a web-based survey. The survey targeted issues related to referral and needs identification, assessment, certification, case progress feedback, and evaluation. Results: Less than half of the occupational therapists systematized the assessment prior to intervention and very few conducted any evaluation afterwards. Feedback from workmen or grant managers to the occupational therapists on each case's adaptation progress was often asked for but rarely given. The majority of the participants were satisfied with the housing adaptation process in general, while at the same time they indicated a need for further improvements in the process. Differences between occupational therapists related to employer and year of graduation were found on the majority of the targeted issues. Conclusions: To conclude, to a very large extent housing adaptations seem to be based on non-standardized procedures for assessment, and only a few of them are evaluated systematically.

Key words::

• web-based survey
• home modification
• evidence-based practice
• case management

Acknowledgements

This study was accomplished within the context of the Centre for Ageing and Supportive Environments (CASE), at Lund University, funded by the Council for Working Life and Social Research, FAS, in Sweden. The study was also funded by the Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, FORMAS, in Sweden and by the Swedish Research Council, VR. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr I.-B. Lindström and Mrs A. Thor at the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists, FSA, for approving, administering, and coordinating the survey, and to LicSci V. Horstmann for statistical assistance. Adjunct professor R. Risser provided valuable input during the planning phase of this study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.