Background to the Research

• The Surveys of Disability in NI conducted by PPRU during 1989 and 1990 were commissioned to provide information about disability for use in planning policies and services. The aims of the surveys were to estimate the prevalence of disability among adults and children and to assess the circumstances under which people with disabilities live.
  

Research Approach

• The Survey methodology was similar to that used in a series of surveys carried out in GB by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Comparisons can therefore be made between major findings from the PPRU Surveys and those from GB. In addition. the PPRU Surveys were tailored to take account of issues of particular interest in NI.
• The Surveys were concerned with adults and children who lived in private households or communal establishments such as homes, hospital wards or hostels. They focus on disability, which was defined as the restriction or lack of ability to perform normal activities. All types of disability are covered, including those arising from physical, mental, behavioural or emotional disorders.
• This report is the fourth in a series of reports emanating from the PPRU Surveys of Disability and was concerned with the use of health and social care services, items of disability equipment and various forms of transport by disabled adults. It also examines the activities with which disabled adults need assistance and who provided that assistance.
  

Main Findings

• Seventy-eight percent of people said they were usually able to go out without assistance and this decreased with severity of disability. Half of those who experienced restricted mobility without assistance were usually able to go out with assistance. By comparison 20% of people living in communal establishments were usually able to go out on their own and a further 52% were able to go out with assistance.
• Twelve percent of disabled people had used a bus in the year prior to interview. Sixty-two percent said they did not use a bus, usually because of their disabilities. Over half were able to drive themselves or were driven in a car belonging to a member of their household. In contrast people who lived in communal establishments were more likely to use transport provided by "services".
• In the year prior to interview 86% of people consulted their GP for treatment or tests in connection with their disabilities, 45% attended hospital as an out-patient and 21% attended as an in-patient. A quarter of people received treatment from a health professional in their own home while 21% received visits from social care services. Eleven percent were on the Health and Social Services Board Register of disabled people.
• Among those living in communal establishments 92% had received a visit from their GP, 44% had been in hospital and 44% attended as an out-patient. Eighty-nine percent received visits from a health professional and 48% received health and social services.
• Use of 8 types of disability equipment was examined: most frequently people used walking aids (27%) and items of special furniture (25%); 5% were wheelchair users. Use of specific items of equipment was also examined, as was the equipment that people felt they needed but did not have. People in communal establishments were more likely to use special furniture (82%) and continence aids (49%).
• Twelve percent of people attended a training or social centre, of whom a third attended a day centre (38%) or social club (36%). Asked about holidays or breaks, 60% of people had neither a holiday nor a break in the previous year. Of those who did have one 58% stayed in holiday accommodation and 41% stayed with family or friends.
• A fifth of disabled adults said they would prefer to live I in a different type of accommodation; 18% said they would prefer sheltered accommodation. The most common reason for not living in their preferred accommodation was that they could not afford it. Fifty-four percent of people said they lived with someone else so they could help look after them.
• Twenty-four percent of disabled people said they needed help with self-care activities while 57% needed help with household activities. In general people who were older, more severely disabled and who lived with others were more likely to need assistance with self-care and household activities.