Room to improve. The role of home adaptation in improving later life

This systematic review of the best recent scientific evidence on how home adaptations can contribute to improving later lives is the second of two new resources from the Centre for Ageing Better and the University of West of England.

It shows that minor home aids and adaptations can greatly improve quality of life for people who are losing mobility. For example, it includes a range of studies showing that people’s difficulties with ‘Activities of Daily Living’ can be reduced by 75% – these include washing, bathing, going to the toilet, dressing and eating. In addition, home aids and adaptations can also increase people’s ability to perform everyday activities by 49%, and reduce depressive symptoms by 53%.