Study Protocol of Implementation and Evaluation of Aging Home Modification Intervention Program (AhMIP) for Iranian Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Introduction With the rapid increase in the older population in Iran, the housing needs of this age group are also changing. The residential environment plays an important role in the ability of older adults to perform daily activities. This study will be conducted to implement and evaluate a home modification intervention program to support older adults. Method This paper describes the protocol for a triangulation mixed methods design study with three substudies. The first substudy is a cross-sectional study to be conducted on 422 community-dwelling older adults to assess their current status at home, functional abilities, fear of falling, and quality of life. In the second substudy, a randomized clinical intervention trial will be conducted on 116 older adults (58 intervention group and 58 control group) with the intervention of home modifications based on the results of the Home Falls and Accidents Screening Tool. The third substudy is a qualitative study with an in-depth, semi-structured interview approach to find out about older adults’ experienecs regarding AhMIP. Conclusion The quantitative and qualitative findings of this study can be useful in designing intervention programs to improve the living environment of older Iranian adults and promote their quality of life.