The unique experience of home for parents and carers of children with disabilities
Sammanfattning
The aim of this paper was to investigate the experience of home for parents and carers of
children with disabilities in Australia. Data for this qualitative study were gathered using semistructured
interviews with four families living in their own homes. An inductive thematic analysis
revealed two main themes. The first was titled ‘Aspects making everyday life easier’ explored the
aspects of the home environment that facilitated home life for the child, including access to
transport, services, family and home modifications. The second theme ‘Decisions and efforts to
create opportunities for the child’ emphasized the efforts made by parents and carers to promote
their child’s independence and participation including a strong consideration for their
children’s future needs. The study indicated that the location of home, appropriate home modifications
and planning for the future defined the experience of home for parents and carers.
These findings identify some important considerations for occupational therapists when providing
services in the homes of families with children who have a disability.