The Effects of Proactive Home Modifications for Aging in Place: Evidence from Hong Kong

Bo Kyong Seo; Kin Yuen Tam; Yichen Dang; Nga Kwan Lee

doi:10.1080/26892618.2025.2478405

The Effects of Proactive Home Modifications for Aging in Place: Evidence from Hong Kong

Bo Kyong Seo
, Kin Yuen Tam
, Yichen Dang
, Nga Kwan Lee

Department of Applied Social Sciences

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

To promote a housing environment that can support healthy
aging in place, home modifications have been encouraged
not only for older adults with past fall injuries or disabilities
but also for those without particular functional limitations as
preventive home interventions. This study examines the environmental
challenges Hong Kong’s community-dwelling lowincome
older adults experience at home and the effectiveness
of home modifications on their daily lives. The results show
that home modifications significantly reduced older adults’
fear of falling, improved their life satisfaction, and strengthened
self-efficacy regarding independent living despite structural
limitations in the current housing conditions and
financial burden.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Aging and Environment
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2025.2478405
Publication status	Published - 4 Apr 2025

Keywords

aging in place
environmental risks
fear of falling
home intervention
life satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
Sociology and Political Science
Gerontology

More information

10.1080/26892618.2025.2478405

Cite this

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title = "The Effects of Proactive Home Modifications for Aging in Place: Evidence from Hong Kong",

abstract = "To promote a housing environment that can support healthy aging in place, home modifications have been encouraged not only for older adults with past fall injuries or disabilities but also for those without particular functional limitations as preventive home interventions. This study examines the environmental challenges Hong Kong{\textquoteright}s community-dwelling lowincome older adults experience at home and the effectiveness of home modifications on their daily lives. The results show that home modifications significantly reduced older adults{\textquoteright} fear of falling, improved their life satisfaction, and strengthened self-efficacy regarding independent living despite structural limitations in the current housing conditions and financial burden.",

keywords = "aging in place, environmental risks, fear of falling, home intervention, life satisfaction",

author = "Seo, \{Bo Kyong\} and Tam, \{Kin Yuen\} and Yichen Dang and Lee, \{Nga Kwan\}",

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year = "2025",

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T1 - The Effects of Proactive Home Modifications for Aging in Place: Evidence from Hong Kong

AU - Seo, Bo Kyong

AU - Tam, Kin Yuen

AU - Dang, Yichen

AU - Lee, Nga Kwan

PY - 2025/4/4

Y1 - 2025/4/4

N2 - To promote a housing environment that can support healthy aging in place, home modifications have been encouraged not only for older adults with past fall injuries or disabilities but also for those without particular functional limitations as preventive home interventions. This study examines the environmental challenges Hong Kong’s community-dwelling lowincome older adults experience at home and the effectiveness of home modifications on their daily lives. The results show that home modifications significantly reduced older adults’ fear of falling, improved their life satisfaction, and strengthened self-efficacy regarding independent living despite structural limitations in the current housing conditions and financial burden.

AB - To promote a housing environment that can support healthy aging in place, home modifications have been encouraged not only for older adults with past fall injuries or disabilities but also for those without particular functional limitations as preventive home interventions. This study examines the environmental challenges Hong Kong’s community-dwelling lowincome older adults experience at home and the effectiveness of home modifications on their daily lives. The results show that home modifications significantly reduced older adults’ fear of falling, improved their life satisfaction, and strengthened self-efficacy regarding independent living despite structural limitations in the current housing conditions and financial burden.

KW - aging in place

KW - environmental risks

KW - fear of falling

KW - home intervention

KW - life satisfaction

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002065403

U2 - 10.1080/26892618.2025.2478405

DO - 10.1080/26892618.2025.2478405

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2689-2618

JO - Journal of Aging and Environment

JF - Journal of Aging and Environment

ER -

The Effects of Proactive Home Modifications for Aging in Place: Evidence from Hong Kong

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

More information

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