The ‘fight’ for adaptations: exploring the drivers and barriers to implementing home and environment modifications that support healthy ageing

McCall, V., Gibb, K. and Wang, Y. (2023) The ‘fight’ for adaptations: exploring the drivers and barriers to implementing home and environment modifications that support healthy ageing. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, (doi: 10.1108/IJBPA-02-2023-0019) (Early Online Publication)

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Abstract

Purpose: The ageing and disabled population is fast growing, which emphasises the need to effectively modify current homes and environments to support healthy ageing and increasingly diverse health needs. This paper aims to bring together findings and analyses from three adaptations-focussed projects, drawing on perspectives from key stakeholders alongside the lived experiences of service users acquiring adaptations. Design/methodology/approach: Following an Adaptations Framework developed from interviews and focus groups with older people and key stakeholders, the paper discusses barriers experienced by older people and front-line workers in receiving and delivering adaptations through all stages of the process. Findings: This paper reveals how experiences around adaptations might diverge with unseen, hidden investment and need amongst individuals, and how conceptual and cost-focussed evidence gaps impact wider understandings of adaptations delivery. In so doing, this paper highlights how the adaptations process is perceived as a “fight” that does not work smoothly for either those delivering or receiving adaptations services. Research limitations/implications: The paper suggests a systematic failure such that the adaptations process needs to be rehauled, reset and prioritised within social and public policy if the housing, health and social care sectors are to support healthy ageing and prepare for the future ageing population. Originality/value: The paper brings together insights from key stakeholders alongside service users' experiences of adaptations to highlight key policy drivers and barriers to accessing and delivering adaptations.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The authors are grateful to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation for financial support through the CaCHE (grant reference: ES/P008852/1).
Keywords:housing, housing support, accessibility, ageing, disability, systems thinking
Status:Early Online Publication
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Wang, Mr Yang and Gibb, Professor Ken
Authors: McCall, V., Gibb, K., and Wang, Y.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
Journal Name:International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation
Publisher:Emerald
ISSN:2398-4716
ISSN (Online):2398-4708
Published Online:31 August 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited
First Published:First published in International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation 2023
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
300119UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE)Kenneth GibbEconomic and Social Research Council (ESRC)ES/P008852/1S&PS - Urban Studies