Optimising older adults' home spaces to support independence, activity, connection and wellbeing

Healthy ageing is a Welsh Government priority (Strategy for Older People in Wales, 2013), which includes physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, older adults are the least active population (Townsend et al., 2015) resulting in negative consequences for wellbeing, health and social care costs (Office for National Statistics, 2012). BAME older adults are particularly inactive, with elevated Type 2 diabetes incidence (Ige-Elegbede et
al., 2019) thus this research will specifically seek to incorporate BAME older adults, to ensure relevance of
findings across the population.
Aim
Enable older adults to live independent, purposeful, fulfilled lives within connected communities, by
establishing ways their home environment can enable PA and enhance wellbeing.
Objectives
(1) Understand how the geography of older adults' homes interacts with PA, sedentary behaviour,
psychological states, cognition and wellbeing;
(2) Monitor older adults' PA and sedentary behaviour and examine associations with psychological states,
wellbeing and cognition;
(3) Develop ways to optimise older adults' home environments to influence PA, wellbeing and
independence.