Research findings of a study to investigate the needs and aspirations of older people with vision impairment living in community settings in England. The study, which was commissioned by Thomas Pocklington Trust and conducted by The Open University, interviewed 50 older people, including older people aged over 85 years and people from minority ethnic groups. Interviews were also carried out with paid workers, relatives and volunteers to help understand the context of peoples’ lives. Areas covered in the interviews included: visual and general health; housing; support and interaction; living at home; activities of daily living; how to spend the day; going out; social isolation and loneliness; and self-worth, pleasure and the meaning of living well. Interviews were also carried out with paid workers, relatives and volunteers to help understand the context of peoples’ lives. The briefing concludes that support from family, friends, local and national organisations can help older people with visual impairment to maintain a positive attitude and live good lives. To enable older people with visual impairment to remain in their choice of home and community they also need to access to different forms of support and to know who to contact for information and advice on housing adaptations and social support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Research findings of a study to investigate the needs and aspirations of older people with vision impairment living in community settings in England. The study, which was commissioned by Thomas Pocklington Trust and conducted by The Open University, interviewed 50 older people, including older people aged over 85 years and people from minority ethnic groups. Interviews were also carried out with paid workers, relatives and volunteers to help understand the context of peoples’ lives. Areas covered in the interviews included: visual and general health; housing; support and interaction; living at home; activities of daily living; how to spend the day; going out; social isolation and loneliness; and self-worth, pleasure and the meaning of living well. Interviews were also carried out with paid workers, relatives and volunteers to help understand the context of peoples’ lives. The briefing concludes that support from family, friends, local and national organisations can help older people with visual impairment to maintain a positive attitude and live good lives. To enable older people with visual impairment to remain in their choice of home and community they also need to access to different forms of support and to know who to contact for information and advice on housing adaptations and social support.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, visual impairment, user views, black and minority ethnic people, very old people, independence, quality of life;
Open University. Faculty of Health and Social Care
Publication year:
2016
Pagination:
79
Place of publication:
Milton Keynes
This study summarises the views of 50 older people with vision impairment living in the community across England to examine their preferences for where and with what kinds of support they would like to live. Specifically, it aimed to understand about their choices over lifestyle and living arrangements; how control and autonomy can be maintained or delegated; and look at risk-taking and responsibility. Participants in the study included the ‘oldest old’ aged in their high eighties and nineties and older people from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic groups. The findings cover different living arrangements, housing adaptations; use of assistive technology; coping with activities of daily living; getting out and about; and the use of informal and formal support. The report found that all participants demonstrated a combination of individual assertiveness, practical, social and environmental support, learning new skills, accepting interdependency, and learning to benefit from technology. It also found that access to appropriate services depends on where people live and individual drive, and that staying in their own homes is often key to their well-being. It also identified the importance of formal and informal support and relationships to enable people with visual impairment to remain in their own home and the importance of voluntary groups to prevent loneliness and isolation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This study summarises the views of 50 older people with vision impairment living in the community across England to examine their preferences for where and with what kinds of support they would like to live. Specifically, it aimed to understand about their choices over lifestyle and living arrangements; how control and autonomy can be maintained or delegated; and look at risk-taking and responsibility. Participants in the study included the ‘oldest old’ aged in their high eighties and nineties and older people from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic groups. The findings cover different living arrangements, housing adaptations; use of assistive technology; coping with activities of daily living; getting out and about; and the use of informal and formal support. The report found that all participants demonstrated a combination of individual assertiveness, practical, social and environmental support, learning new skills, accepting interdependency, and learning to benefit from technology. It also found that access to appropriate services depends on where people live and individual drive, and that staying in their own homes is often key to their well-being. It also identified the importance of formal and informal support and relationships to enable people with visual impairment to remain in their own home and the importance of voluntary groups to prevent loneliness and isolation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, very old people, needs, black and minority ethnic people, visual impairment, user views, housing, independence, quality of life, home adaptations, social activities, assistive technology;