Adapting Older Persons' Homes to Promote Independence

Abstract

A home dapItion program offered free+fchuge to elderlv clients of three home cue m i c e centres in the Montreal m a i d to installation of 898 modiftcations in 177 households. Almost half of the modifications were ma& to bathrooms. The mosl common modifications included insullrtioo of nab bars, shower seats and handheld showers. lhese modif~cali-&u also had the hinhest utilization rates. The averape cost of the modifrcatioos was $I35 Cdn uer household. Analyss showed thaI many berriers to functional iindependence exist in-seniors' homes and thiu the elderly are readv to make use of modificatioos to facilitate evervdav activities