Investıgation of Home Safety in Neurological Disabled Individuals in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Purpose: This study was planned to determine of the home safety conditions and risks in the living environments of individuals with neurological disabilities residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Methods: The study included 50 patients residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI; n=11), Parkinson's Disease (PD; n=6), Cerebrovascular Event (CVA; n=28), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS; n=5). Home safety was assessed using the Home Safety Checklist (HSCC), and disability levels were evaluated using the Modified Hoehn-Yahr Scale, Modified Rankin Scale, American Spinal Injury Association Score, and Expanded Disability Status Scale. Results: The mean total HSC scores of the patients are 19.10±5.59. The total HSC score was higher in patients with stroke compared to the other patient groups (p < 0.05). In addition, while the household tasks sub-dimension was higher in patients with SCI, the outdoor and garden sub-dimension were higher in patients with stroke (p < 0.05). Furthermore, according to the results obtained, 80% of the patients’ homes were classified as ‘hazardous’. However, none of the homes were rated as ‘excellent’ in terms of safety. Conclusion: The findings of our study demonstrated that the home safety conditions of individuals with neurological disabilities who reside in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are highly inadequate and hazardous. Secondary problems that may arise from home accidents in individuals with neurological disabilities can be easily prevented through regular home assessments and the implementation of necessary modifications. In this respect, the results of our study provide a foundation for future research aimed at enhancing home safety for individuals with neurological disabilities.