On September 6th 2024, researchers at TrinityHaus will be hosted by their colleagues at The Housing Agency in order to launching the final report from the project at an online webinar. Speakers include Prof Des O’Neill, a specialist in geriatric and stroke medicine based at TUH and Trinity College Dublin (TCD), and Tom Grey and Jennifer O’Donoghue of TrinityHaus Research Centre at TCD.

Register for the webinar here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/housing-conditions-and-integrated-care-of-older-people-tickets-992816369487?aff=oddtdtcreator

This webinar will be of particular interest to those working in the areas of health, research and housing for older people.

The research was conducted by a team consisting of TrinityHaus, TUH, BRE and Age Friendly Ireland, working with partners including The Housing Agency, Age Action, South Dublin County Council, Meath County Council and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority.

A research team consisting of TrinityHaus (TCD), Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), Building Research Establishment (LTD) (BRE), and Age Friendly Ireland working with a range of partners including The Housing Agency, Age Action, South Dublin County Council, Meath County Council and the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design conducted this study to explore the links between housing conditions and the health of older people. 

Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) and the HSE Integrated Care Team are part of the Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) aimed at promoting the development  of services and care pathways to improve outcomes for older people in the community. These care pathways involve various aspects of the built environment including housing, which acts as critical infrastructure for the hospital and community care ecosystem. It is important to understand the impact of housing on the health of older people in the Tallaght area and the downstream consequences for the community and TUH in terms of preventative medicine and the ongoing care of older people.

This research highlights 3 main issues:

  • The serious implications that poor housing conditions have for older people in Ireland, the consequences for health and wellbeing outcomes, and the impact this has on the integrated care for older persons.
  • The urgent need for better housing data, national housing condition surveys, and centralised data platforms.
  • The need to support and expand integrated approaches to housing and the care of older people in Ireland by bringing together key partners including: hospitals; the Integrated Care Programme for Older People; local authorities; and the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme.

The research aims to inform housing providers, policy makers, and healthcare providers about key aspects of healthy homes and the most common housing hazards experienced by older people.

Acknowledgements

  • This research was funded by the Meath Foundation.
  • We would like to thank the members of the Integrated Care Team and Tallaght University Hospital for their outstanding support and for facilitating our project, without whom the research could not have taken place.
  • Most importantly, we would like to thank all the Integrated Care Team patients who took part in our case study site visits, allowing us into their homes and sharing their experiences with us. Additionally, we would like to thank the wonderful participants who took part in our focus groups, sharing their viewpoints and experiences of home.