Residential Modification & Physical Functioning in Older Adults
By Richard Shank
New research from the Second Longitudinal Study on Aging (SLSA) provides confirming evidence that home modifications are capable of reducing the risk of physical decline.
The SLSA started following nearly 10,000 community-dwelling older adults, age 70 or older, in 1994-1995. The researchers used self-reported descriptions of home modifications made at baseline as the basis for comparison in the research. They found that compared with individuals who made no baseline modifications at the beginning of the study, those who did make home modifications were less likely to experience declines in functional ability.
Home modifications include installing ramps to elevated entrances to homes, railings, automatic/easy-open doors, fall-resistant toilet and bathtub modifications, alert devices, elevators or lifts, and kitchen changes.
Disability has declined among older adults by 1% over the past decades. It has been difficult, until recently, for researchers to isolate all the independent factors that have contributed to this modest decline. Before this study, it was previously unclear if this decline is due to the increasing popularity of home and environmental modifications or widespread improvement in underlying health conditions associated with chronic disability. This study was able to control for a variety of possible contributing factors, such as health, and isolate the effect of home modifications on functional decline. The authors believe their study lends stronger support for these modifications than had existed prior to the study.
Studies such as this point toward the importance of the built environment for the health of community residents. Future development must take this link between home design and health seriously in order to further promote increased physical functioning well into old age.
Source: Lie, S. Lapane, K. 2009. Residential modifications and decline in physical functioning among community dwelling older adults. The Gerontologist 49(3): 344-354.
Comments? Tell us what you think: askaia@matherlifeways.com
