Methodology for Validation of Housing Standards - the Kitchen as an Example

We will present a novel methodology to validate housing standards. Person-environment fit among older persons with different levels of mobility device dependence was investigated during performance of everyday activities in realistic environments. Observational and self-report data were compared. Ten wheelchair users, ten rollator users and ten participants not using mobility devices prepared lunch in a kitchen designed according to standards while accessibility problems were observed followed by a structured interview. The total self-reported accessibility problem score was higher than the observational score. Overall, standards addressing door width, kitchen table height/depth, space requirements and upper base unit shelves did not cause severe accessibility problems, but thresholds, wall cupboards and lower base unit shelves did. Sample identification was challenging and participants had difficulties in rating accessibility problems. The actual use of mobility devices form part of the activity performance. Some standards are not defined properly to enable activity performance in realistic environments.After attending this activity, participants will be:•Aware of some of the methodological challenges concerning sampling and the measurement of accessibility problems among older people with different levels of dependence in mobility device use•Aware of the implications of using observation versus self-report data in research on person-environment fit•Consider the methodological implications of the fact that different mobility devices are used in different ways during the activity performance that they form part of