Healthy Ageing/Vulnerable ENvironment index (HAVEN)

Health geographer Dr Danielle Taylor, Prof Renuka Visvanathan and the team have developed a novel scale called Healthy Ageing/Vulnerable ENvironment index (HAVEN) index to evaluate how complex aspects of neighbourhood environments can influence the health and wellbeing of older people.

Neighbourhood characteristics can have a significant impact on older people’s ability to age successfully at home. Characteristics such as the location of medical services, access to green space and availability of volunteer activities cab influence health for older people. This new index expands our knowledge as to exactly how the neighbourhood can impact and influences health of older people.

A new paper by the team is available: A vulnerable residential environment is associated with higher risk of mortality and early transition to permanent residential aged care for community dwelling older South Australians.