Housing matters in very old age - yet differently due to ADL dependence level differences

Abstract

In order to support the development of optimal housing options for older people, we need to increase our understanding of relations between aspects of housing and aspects of health in old and very old age. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore whether and how aspects of housing are related to life satisfaction and perceived health among very old, single-living Swedish people. Based on survey study data from the ENABLE-AGE Project (n = 397), correlation and regression analyses were performed with sub-groups of participants defined according to different levels of ADL dependence. The results showed that the aspects of housing related to life satisfaction and perceived health were different in the three ADL sub-groups. Among objective aspects of housing, accessibility problems influenced life satisfaction as well as perceived health, yet differently among the sub-groups. As concerns perceived aspects of housing, aspects of meaning of home (MOH) were influential on perceived health in several sub-groups, while only among persons dependent in I-ADL were social aspects of MOH related to life satisfaction. Among persons dependent in I-ADL, external housing-related control beliefs also played a role. In conclusion, the results indicate that housing matters in very old age, yet differently due to ADL dependence-level differences. Most importantly, different aspects of housing seem to play a role in different phases of the trajectory of disability in very old age, while longitudinal studies are needed to verify these indicative results.