[Forms of independence and the residential environment--an empirical contribution from the study "Possibilities and limits of independent living for elderly patients"]

Abstract

In a study on the chances and limits of independent living in old age, we collected data about difficulties in 23 activities of daily living in two sub-samples: participants from the western part of Germany (n = 745), and from the eastern part of Germany (n = 347). Participants were grouped into three patterns of competence by means of cluster analysis. Cluster analyses were calculated separately for participants in the western and eastern parts of Germany. In both sub-samples, we found three patterns of competence: "High competence in most activities of daily living", "reduced competence in some activities of daily living" and "reduced competence in most activities of daily living". Patterns of competence were similar in the sub-samples, but important differences were found in some activities of daily living between participants from the eastern and western parts of Germany (e.g., in "heating home," "washing clothes," "banking"). These differences were due to unfavorable conditions in physical environment. Analysis of the relationship between objective housing conditions (assessed by our research team) and patterns of competence strongly supported this interpretation. Participants in the two sub-samples were more satisfied with their housing conditions as could be expected from our assessment of housing conditions. Successful adaptation to environmental conditions and changes in the aspiration-level can explain these differences. The degree of satisfaction with housing conditions is only a poor predictor for possibilities in increasing competence by intervention and rehabilitation. Most participants wished to keep their household independently as long as possible. Acceptance for homes for the elderly was low.