Experiencing visual impairment in a lifetime home: an interpretative phenomenological inquiry

Area of Science:

• Accessible Housing Design
• Human-Centred Design
• Visual Impairment Studies

Background:

• Lifetime home standards (LTHS) are intended to enhance home accessibility.
• Existing research suggests LTHS inadequately address sensory impairment needs.
• Rising global visual impairment necessitates evaluating housing suitability and its impact on wellbeing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the lived experiences of visually impaired individuals in homes built to LTHS.
• To assess the adequacy of LTHS in meeting the needs of occupants with visual impairments.
• To identify design considerations and coping strategies employed by visually impaired residents.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with six visually impaired participants in Northern Ireland.
• Participants resided in homes designed according to LTHS.
• Data analysis employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Main Results:

• Three super-ordinate themes emerged: living with visual impairment, design considerations, and coping strategies.
• A core theme highlighted the balance between psychological and physical needs.
• While homes offer security, occupants face challenges and employ coping mechanisms, indicating a need for personalized design within general guidelines.

Conclusions:

• LTHS offer some benefits but present challenges for visually impaired occupants.
• Homes are perceived as secure and comfortable, despite negative emotional responses to visual impairment.
• There is a clear need for greater consideration of individual needs within accessible housing design standards.