Older people s home modification process

Abstract: The overall aim of the thesis was to provide theoretical and empirical knowledge of interactions involved in the encounters between older persons experiencing activity limitations in their home environments and the service organisation related to home modification services, in the context of one Swedish municipality. A transactional perspective was used, meaning that the focus was on driving forces and relationships connecting different aspects and actors involved in older people s encounters with the service organisation related to home modification services. Four studies were included in the thesis. Different designs were chosen in the four studies to get a comprehensive understanding of older people s home modification processes. The designs included explorative quantitative design, case study design, longitudinal in-depth interview study and critical discourse study. Findings from all studies were ultimately integrated and analysed, using the concepts of place integration and practical rationalities as theoretical tools for analysis. A general finding from the studies was that the older persons aspiration to create possibilities for action was a strong driving force throughout their home modification processes. An additional general finding was that the strategies used to create possibilities for action were expressions of practical rationalities resulting from relationships between the older persons values and their experienced scopes of action. The findings also demonstrate how the relationship between older people s practical rationalities and different professionals practical rationalities directed the home modification process through a process of negotiations. A conclusion from this thesis is that an approach that recognises the changing characters of older people s ongoing lives and their interconnectedness to the service organisation is needed to provide home modification services that meet needs satisfactorily and are empowering to older persons experiencing activity limitations in their homes.