Self-Reported Health Outcomes Associated With Green-Renovated Public Housing Among Primarily Elderly Residents. Issue 4 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Breysse, Jill; Dixon, Sherry L.; Jacobs, David E.; Lopez, Jorge; Weber, William
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health management and practice. Volume 21:Issue 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Public health administration -- United States -- Periodicals; 253.6
• DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000000199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-4659

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objectives:</title> <p>Assess the benefits of green renovation on self-reported health of primarily elderly residents of a low-income public housing apartment building.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Design and Setting:</title> <p>Using questions from the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey, we interviewed residents at baseline and 1 year after green renovation of their 101-unit building in Mankato, Minnesota, comparing self-reported mental and physical health outcomes of 2 sets of residents (all-ages: median, 66 years, n = 40; elder: median, 72 years, n = 22) with outcomes for 2 same-aged low-income Minnesota comparison groups taken from Medicare Health Outcomes Survey participants (n = 40 and 572, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Participants:</title> <p>Study group: Mankato apartment building residents.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Interventions:</title> <p>Green renovation including building envelope restoration; new heating, electrical, and ventilation systems; air sealing; new insulation and exterior cladding; window replacement; Energy-Star fixtures and appliances; asbestos and mold abatement; apartment gut retrofits; low volatile organic chemical and moisture-resistant materials; exercise enhancements; and indoor no-smoking policy.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Main Outcome Measures:</title> <p>Self-reported health status including Activities of Daily Living and Veteran's Rand 12 (VR-12) survey results; housing condition visual assessment; indoor environmental sampling; and building performance testing.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>The all-ages study group's mental health improved significantly more than the comparison group's mental health on the basis of mean number of good mental health days in the past month (<italic>P</italic> = .026) and mean VR-12 mental component score (<italic>P</italic> = .023). Sixteen percent fewer all-ages study group people versus 8% more comparison group people reported falls (<italic>P</italic> = .055). The elder study group's 9% improvement in general physical health was not statistically significantly better than the elder comparison group's decline (6%) (<italic>P</italic> = 0.094). Significantly fewer people in the all-ages group reported smoke in their apartments because of tobacco products (20% vs 0%, <italic>P</italic> = .005), likely reflecting the new no-smoking policy.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>Green healthy housing renovation may result in improved mental and general physical health, prevented falls, and reduced exposure to tobacco smoke.</p> </sec> </abstract>