Meeting the Needs of Visually Impaired People Living in Lifetime Homes

Clíona Rooney, Karim Hadjri, Máirin Rooney, Verity Faith, Keith McAllister, Cathy Craig
2016 Journal of Housing for the Elderly  
This article explores perceptions on the suitability and effectiveness of Lifetime Homes Standards (LTHS) for those with visual impairment in Northern Ireland. LTHS are a series of mandatory United Kingdom (UK) public sector housing design interventions, providing a model for ensuring accessible and adaptable homes throughout an occupant's lifespan. An ageing demographic with increasing incidence of diabetes, has led to rising numbers of elderly visually impaired people wanting to remain in
more » ... r homes for longer. Qualitative semi structured interviews were conducted with thirteen key stakeholders and thematically analysed. Although findings show that employing LTHS offers benefits to visually impaired residents, short-comings were also identified. Evidence indicates a need for Policy Makers, Health Care Professionals and Housing Associations to modify practices to better meet the housing needs of visually impaired people. Findings may also be applicable to those with other impairments and disabilities in relation to housing for elderly residents. KEY WORDS Lifetime homes, visual impairment, housing standards, ageing in place
doi:10.1080/02763893.2016.1162251 fatcat:4c4oyt43o5c7lm24dwqy4jsli4