ABSTRACT
The ability to age in place and never move is contingent on the livability of the dwelling in which an older person resides, whether in individual homes and apartments or some form of senior group housing. Old-age homes, while not a recent phenomenon in India, are growing in number, especially in the southern part of the country. A study of nearly 50 such homes had, as one focus, the extent to which these facilities have modified the physical environment to enable residents to age in place. Not all desirable home modifications (HMs) are widely available; for example, only 25 percent had special seating in bathing areas, 48 percent used ramps and 21 percent employed handrails in hallways and bathing areas. In addition, many HMs are inelegant or primitive by United States and European standards, but still provide needed environmental support for residents. These HMs are important to enhance self-maintenance and also to enable residents to help each other.
