The indoor home environment and self-rated health among older people using long-term care services

The indoor home environment and self-rated health among older people using long-term care services

Author:
Publication type: 
Journal Article
Year: 
2018
Journal/Series title: 
Innovation in Aging
Volume number: 
2
Issue: 
Suppl 1
Pages: 
577
ISSN/ISBN: 
2399-5300
Abstract: 

For older people using long-term care services, the conditions of their life-space may be critical. In the present study the relationship between aspects of the indoor home environment and self-rated health was examined among older people in Japan. A dataset (N=2,017) comprising older people (aged 65+, 40% men) with different levels of ADL dependence was utilized. Associations between self-rated health and aspects of the indoor home environment (assessed with interRAI tool) were examined by means of multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for socio-demographics. For individuals with high ADL independence, only low access to emergency assistance was significantly associated with poor self-rated health. For individuals with low ADL independence, lack of safety, poor sanitary conditions, low or high indoor temperature and state of home disrepair were significantly associated with poor self-rated health. Home care service providers and policy-makers need to consider the importance of appropriate environmental conditions for vulnerable older people.