Research on programs offering senior-specific housing supports and enabling “aging in the right place” (AIRP) for “older persons with experiences of homelessness” (OPEH) is limited. This paper presents an environmental assessment of a “transitional housing program” (THP) in Metro Vancouver, Canada, for OPEH to AIRP. Data were collected using Aging in the Right Place Environmental (AIRP-ENV) and Secondary Observation (AIRP-ENV-SO) audit tools designed to evaluate multi-unit housing for OPEH. The 241-item AIRP-ENV tool was used to assess the built environmental features of four multi-unit buildings of the THP. The AIRP-ENV-SO tool was used to collect contextual data on the function, safety, and land use of the surrounding neighborhood. Findings identified built environment and urban design features that support THP residents’ safety, security, accessibility, functionality, social activity, autonomy, and identity. The THP buildings were rated ‘Good’ for accessibility, functionality, autonomy and identity, while ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Poor’ for safety, security, and social activity. Findings point to the built environmental features (e.g., size and layout of spaces) required in the THP to create opportunities for increased social engagement among residents and enhanced safety and security. The AIRP-ENV and AIRP-ENV-SO audit tools can help inform programs across the housing continuum to develop supportive built environments that promote AIRP for OPEH.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (ensuring healthy lives and well-being) and SDG 5 (achieving gender equality), especially for caregivers. Increased demand for informal caregiving has disproportionately impacted caregivers, worsening mental health challenges. Intense burden reinforces traditional gender norms and exacerbates health inequities, linking it closely to both SDGs. This study investigates the relationship between intense caregiving burden and mental health among informal caregivers in Spain, emphasizing gender differences and the mitigating role of perceived social support. This three-time repeated-measures analysis, part of the larger longitudinal CUIDAR-SE study, was conducted in two regions of Spain, Granada (Andalusia) and Gipuzkoa (Basque Country). 261 caregivers (165 female and 96 male) were enrolled in 2021 and followed through 2022 and 2023. Mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), with independent variables including age, sex, and caregiving factors (intense burden, social support). Descriptive statistics characterized the caregiving situation by sex, followed by logistic regression to explore associations between GHQ-12 scores and burden, adjusted for age and social support, stratified by sex. Results showed that male caregivers, typically older and caring for spouses, received less informal support and more external assistance than younger female caregivers, whose care was more varied. A positive association was found between caregiving burden and mental health issues: odds ratio (OR) 7.1 (95% CI: 3.7–14.3) in 2021, OR 6.2 (95% CI: 2.8–14.6) in 2022, and OR 4.6 (95% CI: 1.9–12.0) in 2023, adjusting for age and social support. This association was stronger among male caregivers, particularly in 2021. Social support showed a protective effect against mental health problems for men in 2022 and both men and women in 2023. This study underscores the mental health impact of caregiving during the pandemic, revealing gender inequities in caregiving tasks, burden, and mental health distress. The findings emphasize the need for gender-sensitive policies, aligned with the SDGs, to support caregivers’ well-being. Strengthening formal care services and promoting shared caregiving responsibilities are essential to reducing caregiver burden and improving mental health outcomes.

Ageing populations and longer life expectancies challenge healthcare systems due to rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and multi-morbidity. Designing healthier living environments may reduce population risks of NCD onset, but knowledge is needed on environmental factors related to NCDs in older adults. We therefore examined associations between residential neighbourhood built, physico-chemical, and sociodemographic environmental factors and NCD prevalence in the Netherlands among older adults. Cross-sectional data from 1578 older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (2008–09) were matched with environmental data from the Dutch Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium (GECCO). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the odds of having a single NCD versus no NCD and multi-morbidity versus no NCD, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Participants had a mean age of 73.2 years, 55% were female, and 77% reported at least one NCD. Multi-morbidity was more common in women, who were also older and had lower education and income. Higher green space density within 500 m was significantly associated with lower odds of single NCD [odds ratio (OR): 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33–0.83]. A higher number of cars in a household also showed lower odds of single NCD (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04–0.55). No significant associations were observed for physico-chemical exposures. Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses. The findings underscore the need for urban planning and policies that support healthy ageing while embracing a longevity-ready perspective, accounting for the built, physico-chemical, and sociodemographic environments across the life-course.

Background: The prevalence of sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities in Canada underscores the need to address environmental barriers. This study adapts and validates the Stakeholders’ Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighborhoods (SWAN) tool to assess the challenges the built environment poses for individuals with disabilities, aiming to inform policy changes for accessibility and inclusivity. Objective: This study aims to (1) adapt the SWAN tool for those with hearing, vision, or cognitive disabilities; (2) validate SWAN tool for researching environmental barriers for people with disabilities, including older adults; and (3) offer insights for policy changes in the built environment, contributing to literature and guiding future research. Methods: The study uses a community-based research approach, carried out over 4 phases within an 18-month period in British Columbia. Phase 1 includes adapting and pilot-testing of the SWAN tool. In Phase 2, street intersections are identified for data collection using Geographic Information System tools and consultations with municipal officials. Phase 3 involves recruiting participants across four disability categories. The final phase includes analyzing the data and disseminating findings. Results: Data collection concluded in September 2024, involving 80 eligible participants across four streams in preidentified hotspots. The results are expected to be published in March 2025. To date, data collection is ongoing, and we are currently in the process of data analysis. Conclusions: This study will contribute to the growing body of research on built environment accessibility by adapting the SWAN tool for individuals with diverse disabilities. By identifying key barriers in urban spaces, the study aims to inform policy changes that will lead to more inclusive, accessible, and safe urban environments for all individuals.

Background: The aging population and increased disability prevalence in Spain have heightened the demand for long-term care. Informal caregiving, primarily performed by women, plays a crucial role in this scenario. This protocol outlines the CUIDAR-SE study, focusing on the gender-specific impact of informal caregiving on health and quality of life among caregivers in Andalusia and the Basque Country from 2013 to 2024. Objective: This study aims to analyze the gender differences in health and quality of life indicators of informal caregivers residing in 2 Spanish autonomous communities (Granada, Andalusia, and Gipuzkoa; Basque Country) and their evolution over time, in relation to the characteristics of caregivers, the caregiving situation, and support received. Methods: The CUIDAR-SE study uses a longitudinal, multicenter design across 3 phases, tracking health and quality of life indicators among informal caregivers. Using a questionnaire adapted to the Spanish context that uses validated scales and multilevel analysis, the research captures changes in caregivers’ experiences amid societal crises, notably the 2008 economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. A multistage randomized cluster sampling technique is used to minimize study design effects. Results: Funding for the CUIDAR-SE study was in 3 phases starting in January 2013, 2017, and 2021, spanning a 10-year period. Data collection commenced in 2013 and continued annually, except for 2016 and 2020 due to financial and pandemic-related challenges. As of March 2024, a total of 1294 participants have been enrolled, with data collection ongoing for 2023. Initial data analysis focused on gender disparities in caregiver health, quality of life, burden, perceived needs, and received support, with results from phase I published. Currently, analysis is ongoing for phases II and III, as well as longitudinal analysis across all phases. Conclusions: This protocol aims to provide comprehensive insights into caregiving dynamics and caregivers’ experiences over time, as well as understand the role of caregiving on gender inequality in health, considering regional variations. Despite limitations in participant recruitment, focusing on registered caregivers, the study offers a detailed exploration of the health impacts of caregiving in Spain. The incorporation of a gender perspective and the examination of diverse contextual factors enrich the study’s depth, contributing significantly to the discourse on caregiving health complexities in Spain. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/58440