Adaptations for Aging at Home in the UK: An Evaluation of Current Practice

Housing adaptation is necessary to enable elderly people to live independently longer in their own homes. This study aims to review current housing adaptation practice in different parts of the UK and discuss the policy implications at national and local levels. It adopted a mixed-methods research strategy. First, a questionnaire survey was carried out with all 378 local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales; 112 valid responses were received, representing a response rate of around 30%. Then, interviews and a focus group meeting were conducted with professionals involved in the adaptation process and older clients. The research findings showed that the current number of housing adaptations is relatively small in most local authorities, compared with the potential demand of an aging population. They also revealed some inconsistencies and deficiencies in the system, leading to ineffective and inefficient adaptation service process. These need to be addressed by local authorities in order to improve their adaptation systems and achieve better outcomes.