Checking dwelling performance for Aging-in-Place

About 90% of persons aged 55 and older would prefer to stay in their current residences as long as possible because older adults value their independence. However, aging-in-place is not always a choice. Recently, the Dutch government tightened the criteria for older adults to be admitted in a nursing home. Throughout the past 5 years TNO was requested by the trade association for building service contractors in the Netherlands to develop a number of tools for building service professionals. The 'dwelling check' was developed as a 'basic' check on the possibility for aging-in-place. A pilot study was conducted to assess the added value of the dwelling check for older adults. During this pilot study the occupants of over 200 dwellings were interviewed by 11 building services contractors using the dwelling check. Based on these interviews a personal advice was written. After which the interviewees were asked to evaluate this service, comprising the interview and written advice. The dwelling check contributed most to the awareness of and interest in possible alterations for aging-in-place. In a few cases the decision (17%) or even action (5%) was taken to make alterations. Overall the dwelling check was rated 8 out of 10 by the interviewees and may therefore be considered of added value. © 2015 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.