Home Modification Status and Needs of Older Adults Households for Sustainable Living in the Community - Focused on the Korea Housing Survey 2020 -

Abstract

This study aims to provide implications as basic data for seeking spatial alternatives for sustainable home-based elderly housing in the community and establishing policies by identifying the reality of housing modification and improvement needs of older adults households. The analysis data used the micro-data of Korea housing survey 2020, and the older adults household owners aged 65 or older who responded that they had experience in housing modification were targeted. As a result, older adults households of ‘female’ and ‘over 85 years of age’ were found to be the most in need of support as both the awareness and use rate of home modification installation and housing support programs were lower than others. Most of the home modification items were repaired in the kitchen and toilet-related facilities, ‘lever-type faucet (faucet)’, and ‘a kitchen workbench of appropriate height’ was the highest in order. The necessary home modification was ‘safe flooring for anti-slip’, ‘a toilet or bathroom support handles’, ‘emergency bells in the house’, and ‘removal of steps such as thresholds and stairs in the house’ were higher than others. ‘Male’ older adults households were more aware of the housing support program than ‘female’ older adults. Even though home modification was the preferred program, it showed a low utilization rate.