As so many societies around the world age, there is a growing concern about how our increasing life expectancy can provide us with a societal premium rather than a curse of more years spent in ill health.  For many, the argument revolves around ensuring people retain independence in their own homes, whilst ensuring that they aren’t isolated and lonely as a result.

It’s a trade off examined by new research from Washington University in St. Louis.  They argue that while being alone can undoubtedly be harmful, if the home was sufficiently equipped, it would moderate this process and leave the resident better off.

These improvements include providing ramps into doorways, widening access or ensuring that bathrooms are located on the first floor.

The study, which the authors believe is one of the first of its kind, aimed to explore how these features can help to improve cognitive health among functionally vulnerable adults.

Health and retirement

The researchers gathered data from the Health and Retirement Study, which was conducted between 1998 and 2010.  The study focused on people aged 65 and above who had at least one limitation on their daily activities.  This cohort was then split into those who lived in supportive home environments and those who did not, with their cognitive function tracked over time.

The data suggests that various home modifications can be crucial to the cognitive capabilities of older people who are both socially and physically vulnerable.

“The physical home environment, including in-home features and accessibility, is more important to older individuals with limited functional ability, but the degree to which these elders can adapt may depend on their living arrangement. This is especially relevant as social factors are known to be important for later year cognitive health and are affected by living arrangements,” the researchers say.  “Our findings reveal the importance of home modifications for socially and physically vulnerable elders.”