This article reports findings from two linked projects. The first examined the housing, support and care needs of 400 visually impaired people aged 55 and over. The second looked at the housing and support needs of 121 adults aged 18-55. Only one half of younger informants and just over half of older informants had made physical alterations to their home to manage with impaired sight. A quarter of older people and three in ten younger people made no use whatsoever of aids or assistive technology. A lack of basic information prevented both groups from taking informed decisions about obtaining and adapting their accommodation. Older visually impaired people are the larger group numerically within society, and we found serious under provision of housing and services to ameliorate the problems of chronic ill health, social isolation and anxiety that many faced on a daily basis. Yet the difficulties faced by younger people were if anything even greater, especially if they had additional disabilities, were female or came from an ethnic minority. These findings challenge housing and service providers to devise innovative, person-centred and cost-effective solutions that improve the quality of life for adults of all ages with impaired vision.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barker, M. & Winyard, S. (1998) Lost Vision: Older Visually Impaired People in the UK. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind .
2.
Barker, P. , Barrick, J. & Wilson, R. (1995) Building Sight: A Handbook of Building and Interior Design Solutions to Include the Needs of Visually Impaired People. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind .
3.
Carroll, C. , Cowan, J. & Darton, D. (1999) Meeting Part M and Designing Lifetime Homes. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
4.
Hanson, J. (2005) The Housing and Support Needs of Adults Aged 18-55 with Impaired Vision: A Good Practice Guide. London: The Housing Corporation, Thomas Pocklington Trust, University College London . http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/research/space/housingfutures/ypiv.htm
5.
Hanson, J. , Kellaher, L. & Rowlands, M. (2001) The Transition from Domesticity to Caring. London: University College London .
6.
Hanson, J. , Johnson, M. , Percival, J. & Zako, R. (2002) Housing and Support Needs of Older People with Visual Impairment - Experiences and Challenges. London: Thomas Pocklington Trust .
7.
Hanson, J. , Percival, J. & Osipovic, D. (2004) London User Needs Study: The Housing and Support Needs of Younger People with a Visual Impairment. London: Housing Corporation, Thomas Pocklington Trust, University College London : http://www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/research/space/housingfutures/ypiv.htm
8.
Hayley, M. , Robinson, C. , Humphrey, A. , Kafka, E. , Oliver, R. & Bose, S. (2003) Housing in England 2001/2, A Report of the 2001/2 Survey of English Housing. London: National Centre for Social Research & Office of the Deputy Prime Minister .
9.
Imrie, R. & Hall, P. (2001) Inclusive Design: Designing and Developing Accessible Environments. London: Spon Press .
10.
Leather, P. (1999) Age File '99: A Factfile about Older People in England. Kidlington: Anchor Housing Trust .
11.
ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) (2003) English House Condition Survey 2001. London: The Stationery Office .
12.
ONS (Office for National Statistics) (2003) Living in Britain in 2001. London: The Stationery Office .
13.
Rees, L. & Lewis, C. (2003) Housing Sight: A Guide to Building Accessible Homes for People with Sight Problems. London: JMU, RNIB Cymru & Wales and West Housing Association .
14.
Rickards, L. , Fox, K. , Roberts, C. , Fletcher, L. & Goddard E. (2004) Living in Britain: Results from the 2002 General Household Survey. London: The Stationery Office .
15.
Tate, R. , Smeeth, L. , Evans, J. , Fletcher, A. , Owen, C. & Rudnicka, A. (2005) The Prevalence of Visual Impairment in the UK: A Review of the Literature. London: Royal National Institute for the Blind .
