Housing adaptations may slow down disability in older people with initially good health

multi-generational family group

A new study by Professor Emily Grundy and Dr Jiawei Wu, published in the journal Age and Ageing, found that housing adaptations were associated with slower development of disability among men and women with initially good latent physical health.

The findings suggest that housing adaptations may have preventive effects and slow down the development of disability in those with good baseline latent physical health, emphasising home modifications should be made as soon as a need has been identified.

With these adaptations in place, people with initially good latent physical health may be able to preserve their functional capabilities and benefit from a slower health decline.

The study used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).

The findings suggest there are preventive effects of housing adaptations on the development of disability, which supports calls made by campaigners for greater recognition, awareness and implementation of housing adaptations as a means of promoting the functional ability of older people.

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf023

Wu, J. & Grundy, E.M. (2025) Housing adaptations and older adults’ health trajectories by level of initial health: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Age and Ageing, Volume 54, Issue 2, February 2025, afaf023, https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf023

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