University of Stirling leads on research into housing adaptations for older and disabled people

9 May 2025

A group of housing bodies has commissioned the work, which will consider what is needed in terms of funding and support.

The University of Stirling is leading on research which will identify current and future needs to help people live independently in Scotland.

A group of housing bodies has commissioned the research, which will consider what is needed to fund and support aids and adaptations for older and disabled people.

Professor of Social Policy Vikki McCall is heading up the research project, commissioned by The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and the Association of Local Authority Chief Housing Officers (ALACHO).

Aids and adaptations are installations which allow people to live better in their homes. This can involve everything from grabrails and stairlifts to walk-in showers and wet rooms. However, there have been concerns raised about lack of funding and lengthy waits for residents to get the right aids and adaptations to support their health needs.

Researchers from the Intersectional Stigma of Place-based Ageing (ISPA) project will look at the current and future demand for aids and adaptations and reforms needed to support people to continue to live as independently as they can in their own homes, including when they return following a stay in hospital.

ISPA is a collaboration between the University of Stirling and the University of St Andrews, Newcastle University and University of Bristol.

Dr Vikki McCall
Professor of Social Policy

Adaptations can prevent falls and injuries, reduce overall hospital admissions and support independent living, allowing residents to age well at home and in the community.

Professor McCall, a housing and ageing expert in the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: “We have seen in our previous research at the University of Stirling that inclusive, accessible and flexible design goes a long way to tackle stigma in relation to ageing, disability and place.

Adaptations can prevent falls and injuries, reduce overall hospital admissions and support independent living, allowing residents to age well at home and in the community.

“This research highlights the importance of adaptations for older and/or disabled people in helping with the day-to-day activities that everyone takes for granted – eating, sleeping, bathing and moving about in your home safely. We simply need more support in terms of improving our homes for healthy ageing and future-proofing our current housing stock.”

Sally Thomas, SFHA chief executive, said: “Housing associations are at the forefront of providing appropriate and timely adaptations - from grabrails to large scale adaptations such as extensions for wet-rooms.

“Yet our members constantly tell us that the current policy and funding systems are complex and place too much emphasis on the type of housing, rather than the needs of older and disabled people.

“Following the hugely concerning announcement by the UK Government of drastic cuts to the social security budget, this research is vital to find out the funding, systems and support needed to meet these needs.”

The findings of the research are expected this summer and will inform discussions with political parties ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary elections.