Choice and control for people ageing with intellectual disability in group homes
Sammanfattning
Background: Many people ageing with intellectual disabilities (ID) age in place in group homes.
Participation is a central concept in support and service to people with ID, but age is often a
determining factor for participation among this group. Choice and control are dimensions of
participation. Aim: The aim of this article 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. Material
and methods: Participant observations and interviews with residents and staff were conducted in four
different group homes in Sweden that had older residents. Results: Four categories were found that
can be understood as aspects of choice and control in the group home’s semi-private spaces in the
everyday life of people ageing with ID. These categories included aspects such as space and object,
time and routines, privacy, and a person-centred approach. Conclusion and significance: People
ageing with ID are vulnerable when it comes to maintaining choice and control in various situations
in the home’s semi-private spaces. It is argued that occupational therapists should include this
occupational arena in their evaluations and interventions for people ageing with ID.