Abstract:

Adaptations - permanent or fixed alterations to make homes more suitable for disabled occupants and their families - are important. A recent project has been seeking to assess their effectiveness from the point of view of the resident. The research was carried out in 1999-2000 by teams of professionals (housing, environmental health and occupational therapy staff) working in partnership with a research co-ordinator and with two disabled researchers. This approach generated important data and deficiencies which need to be addressed. There was one clear message from the findings: adaptations work. They improve the quality of life of the people whose homes are adapted, and they deliver on a number of key government objectives.