Living Environment Assessment Tools for Older People: a Systematic Literature Review

The ageing population, the desire to age in place and the deterioration of the housing stock require us to reassess the living environments of older adults. In this context it is essential to identify and map the items used to assess the built environment of older adults, in order to understand which ones are most relevant in the context of ageing.
This article presents preliminary findings from a systematic literature review. Specifically, it examines the items used to evaluate ageing environments in both private and public contexts, along with the main topics addressed in various studies and tools. The studies reviewed for this article were conducted exclusively within a European context. Key aspects such as item selection, classification, target populations, thematic focus and environmental scope are also highlighted. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of how living environments are currently evaluated to meet the diverse needs of older adults.