Accessibility and usability of the physical housing environment of seniors with stroke

This study measured how stroke survivors perceived their housing environment. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using the Usability in My Home Questionnaire with 19 stroke survivors who all lived in the community. Overall, they reported that the design of their homes allowed them to manage their self-care activities but not all of their household activities. The outside design of the home posed difficulties, with uneven ground and poor lighting and stair access. Inside the home, space was a problem, particularly for stroke survivors using wheelchairs. Living in restricted spaces was the result of the person-technology-environment fit. These results show that the housing environment is not experienced similarly by all old persons, and that the environmental experiences reported by the sample often appear inconsistent with the quality of their housing environment as judged by objective indicators; for instance, subjective reports are often more favorable than would be expected in light of the limiting aspects of the objective environment. Recommendations for housing design strategies and for occupational therapy practice are offered.