Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Relationships between objective and perceived housing in very old age
Carita Nygren1, Frank Oswald, Susanne Iwarsson
1Research Unit of Occupational Therapy, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Winsløws vej 9B 5000, Odense C, Denmark. cnygren@health.sdu.dk
The Gerontologist
|March 1, 2007
Summary
Older adults’ perceptions of home usefulness and meaning are linked to housing accessibility, not just the number of barriers. These findings are consistent across five European countries, aiding in senior housing strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Environmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Understanding the housing experiences of older adults is crucial for promoting successful aging in place.
- Research often focuses on objective housing features, but subjective perceptions are equally important for well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between objective and perceived housing characteristics in older adults across five European nations.
- To determine if these relationships exhibit cross-national consistency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the ENABLE-AGE Survey Study, including 1,918 participants aged 75-89.
- Assessed objective home environment (barriers, accessibility) and perceived housing (usability, meaning, satisfaction, control).
Main Results:
- Greater housing accessibility, not just fewer barriers, was associated with higher perceived usability and meaningfulness of home for daily activities.
- Increased accessibility also correlated with reduced reliance on external housing-related control.
- These associations were consistent across all five national samples.
Conclusions:
- Both objective and perceived housing aspects are vital for understanding how older adults age in place.
- Findings offer practical insights for developing targeted housing solutions for senior citizens.
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