‘They don’t squeal, ‘Disabled’.’: using qualitative interviews to explore user perceptions of ‘stylish’ grab rails intended to promote healthy ageing in place in England

TL;DR

Older adults in England appreciate stylish grab rails that help them stay independent at home while avoiding stigma linked to disability.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to home adaptations by focusing on discreet, stylish designs that reduce the stigma of disability.

Findings

Participants reported increased independence and safety with discreet grab rails.

Stylish grab rails helped reduce the stigma associated with disability and aging.

Some participants were uncertain about the dual-purpose design of the grab rails.

Abstract

This qualitative study seeks to answer the question: How do older adults use and perceive home adaptations, specifically grab rails designed to blend into the home environment and avoid overt associations with disability? The grab rails were provided by a large energy company. They were specifically designed to be discreet, stylish and have a dual purpose, with the aim of supporting healthy ageing through ageing in place.

A qualitative study using semistructured interviews, with thematic analysis.

Interviews were conducted predominantly via telephone calls, between 5 June 2023 and 14 August 2023.

33 participants took part in the study with a mean age of 64.2 years. Participants resided in the following regions across the UK: North East, North West, Yorkshire, East and West Midlands. Purposive sampling allowed diversity in gender, ethnicity and home tenure. The grab rails were installed at least 3 months prior to recruitment.

Many participants reported that using the grab rails helped their independence and safety in daily life. The aesthetics of the grab rails were positively appraised, specifically because they had a notably different outward appearance to standard grab rails. Participants were aware that declining mobility can be stigmatising, and they felt the grab rails mitigated this by being discreet and enabling them to present a home which they felt would be accepted by wider society. Participants felt this protected their identity, as they wanted to appear independent to wider society. However, some participants were unaware that the grab rails had been designed with a duality of purpose or were apprehensive towards the functionality of these grab rails. This apprehension may have stemmed from the home adaptations being provided by a large energy provider, or because the discreet design of the grab rails made their intended purpose less overt.

While home adaptations with a discreet and stylish aesthetic are valued by older people, our findings highlight that there are issues with commodifying home adaptations. Furthermore, we demonstrate the importance of addressing the social stigma associated with ageing-related home adaptations.