Housing and Health in Older People

Philippa Howden-Chapman, Louise Signal, Julian Crane

Housing has a clear and well-established impact on the health of occupants. Affordable and appropriate housing protects people from hazards and promotes good health and well-being. The older population is as diverse as any in our society, and older people live in all kinds of dwellings. Regardless of this diversity, there are a number of common housing hazards older people face, and with an ageing population this has significant policy implications.

In this paper we briefly review the demography and housing patterns of older people in New Zealand, describe the impact of climate and construction on health, and indicate the significant health problems exacerbated by the indoor environment. For example, many houses are poorly heated and damp, causing a greater risk of respiratory disease, coronary events and hypothermia in older people.

There is also a correlation between socioeconomic status and health, with older people in rental accommodation having higher death rates than owner-occupiers. Policies that improve the thermal performance of houses, address the cost of power to older people and educate older people about the risks of cold homes should be considered.