Older adults’ perspectives and experiences toward home adaptations and assistive products in a rural community of Northern Thailand: a mixed methods study

As Thailand becomes an aged society, it is important to promote home adaptation and assistive products that accommodate the everyday life activities of older adults in order to improve their quality of life. This study aimed to explore perspectives and experiences in the use of home adaptation and assistive products among older adults in the Doilor Sub-District community. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. In the quantitative phase, healthcare providers and community volunteers arranged transportation using vehicles to bring 350 older adults from their homes in various villages to the Doilor community rehabilitation center for data collection. Among them, 303 participants fully completed the questionnaire, including 261 without experience and 42 with experience using home adaptations or assistive products; their responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most participants without home adaptations or assistive products were dissatisfied with their living conditions (68%) and felt unsafe at home (64%), whereas those with experience using home adaptations and assistive products reported higher satisfaction (70%) and a greater sense of safety (78%). Confidence in utilizing home resources was also lower among inexperienced participants (57% lacked confidence), while 67% of experienced users felt assured of their abilities. Both groups acknowledged the benefits of home adaptations and assistive products, with 50% and 76% (inexperienced and experienced) agreeing they enhance daily functioning, and 61% and 79% recognizing their role in reducing accident risks. Financial constraints were the primary barrier to home adaptations and assistive products use for over 50% of both groups, while service access was more challenging for those without experience (61%) than for experienced users (40%). In the qualitative phase, 12 participants were interviewed for thematic analysis. Four main themes emerged: (1) supporting home adaptations, (2) renovating for a better life to meet older adults’ needs, (3) supporting independence and safety through assistive products, and (4) addressing challenges in adapting to a home and improving the environment. Based on this study, home adaptations and assistive products are essential for older adults in rural communities for a better life. Inclusive support by stakeholders should include considerations regarding budgets, resources, and knowledge information, leading to the formulation of guidelines for home adaptations and assistive products for older people in future.