Housing Research
Creating safer, more accessible homes that support independence and aging in the right place.
Our Housing Pillar explores how the home environment can influence the health, safety, and independence of older adults. Through community-based research, we examine practical ways to improve accessibility, address housing-related challenges, and help older adults remain safely at home.
Why This Research Matters
As we age, changes in mobility and health can make the home more difficult to navigate. Inaccessible barriers can make everyday activities more challenging.
Our research explores how home modifications and community-based supports can make homes safer and better suited to the needs of older adults so they may age in the right place as they choose.
What We're Working Toward
Improve Home Accessibility and Safety
As mobility and health needs change, features of the home that were once easy to navigate can become barriers to everyday activities. Our research explores how home assessments and modifications can address accessibility challenges and make homes safer and easier to navigate.
By identifying practical improvements that respond to the needs of older adults, we aim to create home environments that support safety, comfort, and independence.
Examples of what we examine:
- Number of homes assessed for accessibility
- Number and types of accessibility modifications
- Changes in home accessibility
- Participant experiences with home modifications
- Knowledge of accessible and supportive built environments
Reduce Housing-Related Health Risks
The home environment can play an important role in preventing falls, injuries, and other health challenges. Our research examines how housing conditions and accessibility barriers may contribute to emergency visits, hospital stays, and difficulties remaining safely at home.
By addressing environmental risks before they lead to injury or a hospital visit, we aim to support safer homes and reduce preventable disruptions to older adults’ health and independence.
Examples of what we measure:
- Falls and fall incidence
- Emergency department visits related to home environment
- Hospital overstays related to housing conditions
- Housing-related safety concerns
- Changes following home modifications
Support Aging in the Right Place
For many older adults, remaining at home means staying connected to familiar people, places, routines, and communities. Our research explores how housing supports and modifications can help homes continue to meet the changing needs of older adults as they age.
By developing practical approaches that can work in rural communities, we aim to help older adults remain safely and comfortably at home for as long as possible.
Examples of what we measure:
- Ability to remain safely at home
- Participant experiences and satisfaction
- Perceived impact of home modifications
- Confidence navigating the home
- Community feedback on housing supports
What We Examine
We combine data, lived experience, and community feedback to understand how housing conditions and accessibility influence the safety, health, and independence of older adults.
A safer home can support better health and greater independence.
| FOCUS AREA | WHAT WE MEASURE | WHY IT MATTERS |
|---|---|---|
|
Falls & Home Safety |
|
Reducing hazards in the home can help prevent falls and injuries and support older adults in moving safely through their homes. |
|
Emergency & Hospital Visits |
|
Addressing problems in the home may help prevent avoidable health events and support safer transitions back home. |
|
Accessibility Improvements |
|
Understanding which modifications make the greatest difference can help develop practical approaches to accessible housing. |
|
Community Feedback |
|
Community feedback helps ensure housing solutions reflect the experiences, priorities, and needs of the people they are designed to support. |
How this research creates impact
We explore how safer, more accessible homes can support independence and aging in the right place.
Safer Homes
Fewer Barriers
Increased Independence
Aging in the Right Place
Explore Other Research Pillars
Healthcare Pillar
Improving health, independence, and recovery for older adults in rural Nova Scotia.
Housing Pillar
Improving accessibility and acknowledging the impact of housing modifications in aging in the right place.