Improving Housing Accessibility to Meet the Needs of an Ageing Population: A Rapid Review of Literature
CRESA / Public Policy & Research / Ageing Well National Science Challenge
Publisher: Ageing Well National Science Challenge / CRESA / Public Policy & Research
Independent evaluation
Academic
2026-10-09
Next review: 2027-04-09
New Zealand
High confidence
verified
Codex research — bundled PDF, CRESA publication listing and original report
Evidence boundary: A narrative rapid review, not an estimate of the effect of a particular intervention or a statement of current building law. The report is dated July 2024; CRESA's publication listing gives 18 July 2024. Original June 2026 capture retained. Source and 66-page bundled original checked on 9 October 2026; no new edition is implied.
Short Answer
A July 2024 rapid review by Bev James, Nina Saville-Smith and Ruth Fraser for the Ageing Well National Science Challenge.
Key Points
- •The review screened 159 references, analysed 52 core references and retained 44 for context; an 11-person expert workshop tested preliminary findings.
- •Its main focus is accessible new-build mainstream housing, rather than rest homes or a review of modifications to existing homes.
- •The synthesis identifies mandatory requirements as important but insufficient alone; training, consistent technical guidance, funding, procurement and planning also support implementation.
- •Few studies evaluated intervention effectiveness or occupant experiences. Assessment tools mostly addressed physical access, with limited sensory and cognitive coverage.
- •Evidence on indigenous and ethnic communities was limited; New Zealand application requires attention to Māori, Pasifika and other communities' cultural contexts.
- •The search was in English, mainly covering 2014–2024. Overseas policy descriptions were not independently verified or checked for subsequent legal changes.
Full Summary & Notes
A July 2024 rapid review by Bev James, Nina Saville-Smith and Ruth Fraser for the Ageing Well National Science Challenge. It examines international interventions to increase accessible mainstream new-build housing and considers their relevance to ageing in place in New Zealand.
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