Dependence and Independence in the Hostel

Abstract

This study examined the level of independence/dependence of 233 elderly persons domiciled in Brisbane. Subjects were drawn from both elderly persons living in their own homes (n=75) and elderly persons residing in hostels (n=158). The study investigated the relationship between the environments of elderly persons and their level of independence. As anticipated, significant differences were found on the Iowa Self‐Assessment Inventory (ISAI) scores between the own home group and the hostel group. On the basis of a survey of Queensland hostels using the Institutional Regimes Questionnaire (IRQ), eleven hostels were classified as having positive regimes or restrictive regimes. The ISAI scores of 85 ‘positive regimes’ hostel residents and the 73 ‘restrictive regimes’ hostel residents were then examined. A significant difference was found between residents living in their own home and hostel residents. However, the results indicated that regimes, as measured by the IRQ, could not be used to differentiate the independence level of hostel residents. The level of dependence of residents in hostels with restrictive management regimes was no different from the level of independence of residents in hostels with positive management regimes.