Housing Project Survey

Research and Strategy Research Paper

Housing Survey

People Living with an Acquired Brain Injury

www.coventry.gov.uk

Executive Summary

• Just under half of the respondents (44%) live in owner occupied property
• There is not any one standard type of property that respondents live in.
• The majority of respondents who live in a flat/maisonette live on the ground floor (86%)
• Over half of the respondents have lived in their current property for over 10 years (56%)
• Just over a third of respondents live on their own (36%)
• 28% of respondents are looking to move from their current home
• The most popular reasons for wanting to move are to be all on one level, to be nearer amenities and to be self-contained
• Shower units and downstairs WC are the most cited improvements needed
• To increase independence the most cited responses was for help looking after the home and help establishing social contacts
• A third of respondents felt that their current housing situation has affected their health and social relations.

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CONTENTS

Executive Summary 3

Introduction 4

Methodology 4

Key Findings 5

Conclusion 13

Profile of Respondents 14

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Introduction

During 2006 the Adults Physical and Sensory Impairment Team (Community Services) participated in a series of 'pathways' to Healthcare and Social Care workshops for People with a Traumatic Brain Injury. These workshops included a variety of healthcare personnel working with this client group from the PCT Coventry and University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire as well as individuals and voluntary organisations, such as Headway Coventry & Warwickshire, who support/care for this client group.

It was apparent from this activity that appropriate housing and support services are important to people who have experienced a brain injury both in terms of maintaining independence in the Community but also facilitating continued rehabilitation from their injury.

Subsequently, Headway Coventry & Warwickshire together with Adults Physical and Sensory Impairment agreed to carry out a joint activity to gather feedback and views from People living with an Acquired Brain Injury in Coventry in the form of a Housing Survey.

The aim of the survey was to support Coventry City Council to have a more informed view of the housing circumstances of this client group and the types of housing and housing support issues that people face and this would feed into the planned delivery of future services.

Methodology

The two organisations worked together to agree an appropriate format and content for a postal questionnaire. Headway sent out the questionnaire to people living with an acquired brain injury on their membership database (Coventry residence only) in January 2007: This totalled 120 people. Responses were requested within 2 weeks and 39 questionnaires were returned by post (32.5%), over the next two weeks Headway volunteers tried to contact by telephone those people who hadn't returned a questionnaire limited contact was made however a further 6 questionnaires were completed by telephone.

The total response rate was 37.5% representing a very good return rate.

The responses were then analysed with the support of Coventry City Council's Research and Strategy Team using SPSS and the findings are detailed in this report.

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Fig 1. Respondents by Postcode

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What is the tenure of your home?

Just under a half of respondents own their own homes.

Fig 2. Tenure of home

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%Owner occupiedRented from ahousingassociationPrivately rentedLiving withrelativesOther

What type of house?

There is a wide spread across the property types with just under a third living in a flat or maisonette and 1 in 4 living in a semi-detached house, followed by 23% in a terraced house.

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If your home is a flat/maisonette, is it on the ground floor?

If first floor or above do you have use of a lift?

How long have you lived in your current home?

Over half of the respondents have lived in their current property for 10 years or more.

Fig 2. Length of time resided in current home

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%0-2years3-5years6-10years10years+

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How many people live in your home?

Are you looking to move from your present address?

28% of respondents are looking to move from their present address. This is illustrated on the map below.

Fig 3. Respondents wishing to move from their present address

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