Choice and control for people ageing with intellectual disability in group homes

Background: In Sweden, many people with intellectual disabilities [ID] age in place in group homes. A group home can be understood as being made up of both private spaces, and of semi-private spaces that are shared with other... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
In Sweden, many people with intellectual disabilities [ID] age in place in group homes. A group home can be understood as being made up of both private spaces, and of semi-private spaces that are shared with other residents. This study is focused on having choice and control, which means being able to decide what you want to do, and when and with whom you want to do it. The aim is to explore how choice and control in the everyday life of people ageing with ID is expressed and performed in the group home´s semi-private spaces.

Method:
An ethnographic approach with participant observations and qualitative interviews was used. Data collection were conducted in four different group homes.

Results:
We found four categories that can be understood as aspects of choice and control. These categories included spatial and temporal aspects, as well as aspects related to staffing and organization.

Conclusion:
People ageing with ID are vulnerable when it comes to maintaining choice and control in various situations in the home´s semi-private spaces. Ageing, as a multidimensional and interactive phenomenon, shapes the outcome of choice and control. Choice and control could be restricted by life course experiences. Discussions on occupational justice therefore need to be influenced by a life course perspective.

Application to practice:
Occupational therapists should include semi-private spaces in group homes as an occupational arena in their evaluations and interventions. A life course perspective could strengthen the understanding of concepts related to occupational science, informing occupational therapy practice.