Advancing Home Modification Service Delivery Through Synthesizing Data and Evidence

Chair(s)

• BS

  Bernard A. Steinman, PhD

  Associate Professor
  Family and Consumer Science
  University of Wyoming
  Laramie, Wyoming, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• 

  Scott Trudeau, PhD (he/him/his)

  Director of Practice Engagement
  Workforce Capacity Building
  American Occupational Therapy Association
  Stow, Massachusetts, United States

  Slides Handouts

Discussant(s)

• 

  Maria Henke, MA

  Senior Associate Dean
  Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
  University of Southern California
  Los Angeles, California, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• BS

  Bernard A. Steinman, PhD

  Associate Professor
  Family and Consumer Science
  University of Wyoming
  Laramie, Wyoming, United States
• 

  Mengzhao Yan, MA (he/him/his)

  PhD Candidate in Gerontology
  Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
  University of Southern California
  Los Angeles, California, United States
• 

  Emily Nabors, MSG (she/her/hers)

  Senior Program Specialist, Center for Healthy Aging
  Center for Healthy Aging
  National Council on Aging
  Arlington, Virginia, United States

  Slides

Supportive housing options are a cornerstone to aging in place. Whereas most older people prefer to remain in their homes as they age, challenges associated with aging, including declines in physical health and functioning, often act as barriers to meeting this goal. Additionally, the home’s condition can affect a person’s ability to care for themselves and the ability of caregivers to provide quality care. Home modifications (HM) that increase safety and support daily activities play a key role in helping people stay in their homes and communities. Indeed, evidence-based interventions with HM components have been shown to reduce falls-related accidents, address a range of caregiving needs, and delay or prevent institutionalization–outcomes that otherwise come with high costs to individuals and society. In this symposium we have three aims: 1) to summarize previous research supporting the efficacy of programs with HM components in promoting aging in place via improved safety and access in the home; 2) to present three original studies that incorporated data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to reveal HM use patterns (e.g., whether HMs are implemented proactively in advance of acquiring disability, or reactively in response to acquiring disability); and 3) to introduce a current HM service delivery model, describe its development, and discuss implications and next steps, including how current research findings can inform service delivery strategies in the future.

Presentations:

• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Health Dimensions as Predictors of Home Modification Implementation: A Longitudinal Analysis of NHATS Data
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Bernard A. Steinman, PhD – University of Wyoming
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Supportive Home Features as Proactive/Reactive Associates of Daily Functioning in Older Adults
  
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Do Recommendations From Rehabilitation Therapists Motivate Older Adults to Install Home Modifications?
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Mengzhao Yan, MA (he/him/his) – University of Southern California
• 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST

  Introducing a Service Delivery Model to Optimize Home Modification Outcomes
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Emily B. Nabors, MSG (she/her/hers) – National Council on Aging