POOR HOUSING AND POOR ACCESS TO SERVICES: IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION?. (11th November 2018) - Glicksman, A
Abstract: We completed a series of analyses asking if the need for home repair is associated with negative health related outcomes. Using an omnibus health survey of Philadelphia and the four surrounding counties conducted in 2015, we restricted our analyses to those persons age 60 and older who reported that they rented their homes (n=570). We discovered a statistically significant relation between need for home repair and the need for 1) access to meals and 2) access to prescription program. A significant relation was also identified between need for repair and poorer mental health and functional health as well as more frequent use of emergency rooms. We conclude that need for repair is part of a constellation of challenges to maintaining health for older adults and the home environment must be included in any comprehensive assessment of health status even for those persons living in public housing and similar settings.