Modifications in Homes of the Geriatric Population to Improve Quality of Life

Introduction & Purpose: Older people are often not aware about healthcare and lack scientific knowledge about the home modifications, rehabilitation and the place of living. So in order to study the basis geriatric problems with respect to their living place and the mentality of care givers for acceptance of home modifications, a specially designed study was needed.

Aim: To assess the homes to find out environmental barriers and to check the readiness of the people to modify them.

Objectives: To assess the homes of geriatrics for potential environmental barriers, to suggest the home modifications and check readiness of the people for home modifications and check which area is of home people are keener to modify to prevent falls.

Methodology: Study design is descriptive study and sample population taken was geriatric people in PCMC area with sample size of 100 (50 first visit, 50 second visit). Simple random sampling method was used. Healthy elders living in homes with family were included in the study. Survey was done in living room, bed room, kitchen, bathroom, and stairs of house, then questionnaire based assessment was done & required modifications were suggested, in the second visit it was checked whether the people have done the modifications or not & which is the most common area of the house for barriers, and people are keener to modify. Pre & post questionnaire survey was used as an outcome measure.

Result: The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics at Level of significance (?) 5% (p value 0.05) & Degree of freedom 1. Out of 50, 40 homes have done suggested home modifications i.e. 80% and 10 homes have not done home modifications i.e. 20%, Maximum people have done modifications in toilet/bathroom (24%) followed by living room (21%), stairs (20%), kitchen (19%) and bedroom (16%).

Conclusion: People have willingness to do home modifications. Bathroom/toilet is found to be the most concerned area of home where maximum home barriers are found and modifications are done.

Clinical Significance: we can check the home hazards & suggest appropriate modification so that rehabilitation will have a clinical along with an added community level approach.