ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review the trend of research into home modifications for older adults and suggest considerations of such modifications as a strategy for promoting aging in place. Methods: National Digital Science Library (NDSL), RISS, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were used for searching articles published from January 2008 to December 2017. The phrases “home modification,” OR “home modifications,” OR “residential modification,” OR “residential modifications” were used as search terms, along with search terms in Korean. Results: A total of 14 articles were finally selected for analysis among 374 search results. It was found that studies on home modifications for the elderly have been published steadily from 2009 and have recently been actively conducted. Studies were conducted by various fields of professionals, and the most common subjects were needs or preferences regarding home modifications for the elderly. Qualitative research methods have tended to increase in recent studies. Conclusion: Customized home modifications by multidisciplinary experts are recommended by considering the meaning of the home for both the elderly and their family members in terms of personal, physical, and social aspects. The development of a home modification service model is needed to promote deinstitutionalization and aging in place for community-dwelling older adults in line with community care policies.