Housing and Support Needs and Preferences of People with MS

Summary

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged 18-85 are at risk of long hospitalisations and admission to Residential Aged Care (RAC) as the disease progresses. Due to the progressive and often unpredictable nature of MS, housing and support needs and preferences for this population differ from those with non-progressive disability. Despite this, little is currently known about how hospitals, disability funding bodies and housing providers can best support people with MS to live in appropriate housing and avoid admission to RAC.  

The proposed study will be the first to combine detailed data on the housing and support needs and preferences of people with MS, as well as provide valuable insights into the barriers, facilitators and opportunities for people with MS to live where and with whom they wish to live.  

This data will provide valuable insights into hospital processes, funding decisions and housing design, and how this may impact on people with MS; whether they are able to live in age-appropriate housing that meets their needs or are forced to live in inappropriate settings such as RAC or group homes.  

Extracting, integrating and interpreting this data will inform a co-designed intervention to improve housing and support outcomes for people with MS that will form the basis for a future grant application. This evidence base will also be used to build the capacity of allied health professionals and support coordinators, and influence policy.