Older persons' navigation through the service system towards home modification resources

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Home modifications are crucial occupational therapy interventions for individuals with functional limitations.
• Accessing these services involves navigating a complex network of service organizations and professionals.
• Older adults often face challenges in understanding and utilizing the available service system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe how older adults navigate the service system to obtain home modification services.
• To understand the process older adults use to find services that meet their experienced needs.
• To identify factors influencing satisfaction with home modification services from the older adult's perspective.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative case study design was employed.
• Four older adults with diverse experiences and expectations of home modification services were included.
• The navigation process was conceptualized using the metaphor of a "geographical map".

Main Results:

• Older adults' navigation through the service system was influenced by their expectations and experiences.
• Satisfaction was achieved when there was a congruence between the older person's understanding of responsibilities/eligibility and the professionals' perspective.
• A key finding was the importance of professionals translating clients' everyday problems into service system-compatible terminology.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy practice should focus on aligning client and professional perspectives for effective home modification services.
• Translating clients' lived experiences into the language of the service system is crucial for client-centered care.
• Understanding the 'geographical map' of older adults' service navigation can improve intervention outcomes.