Effects of Unmet Home Safety Modifications Needs on Activities of Daily Living and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Key Points

• The aim is to assess the impact of unmet home safety modification needs on daily living activities and life satisfaction among older adults.
• Utilized data from the 2023 National Aging Survey conducted on adults aged 65 and older.
• Applied weighted regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between home safety modifications and outcomes.
• Examined factors including the installation rates and unmet needs for home safety features.
• Identified a significant discrepancy between the need for and installation of home safety modifications.
• Notable gaps were observed in features directly related to fall risk, such as bathroom grab bars and non-slip flooring.
• Unmet safety needs consistently reduced daily living activities and life satisfaction, even when controlling for demographic variables.
• Cognitive function positively correlated with both daily living and life satisfaction, while decreased physical function negatively impacted them.