Tackling the Invisible Environment: Implementing an Air Quality Assessment Program within Home and Community Based Service Models

Aging in place is the ability of an older adult to safely and independently complete the daily activities they want, need and are expected to do in their homes and communities. Predicated on a good person-environment “fit”, home and community-based services (HCBS) support aging in place through the assessment of the physical, visible environment and provision of low-cost home modifications, but lack resources to tackle invisible environmental health hazards such as air quality. To address this problem, the University of Pittsburgh's Healthy Home Lab (HHL) developed and implemented an air quality assessment and mitigation program in partnership with 4 regional HCBS agencies. This presentation will highlight steps of the process including results of a summary review of existing evidence-based assessments and interventions used to address indoor air quality and mold related issues, development of the Healthy Home Assessment Tool (H-HAT), performance assessment of consumer-grade indoor air quality monitors that measure common air pollutants, and implementation of H-HAT with remediation (N=43) for home-dwelling older adults in Western Pennsylvania. Facilitators and barriers related to the H-HAT development and implementation process will be highlighted, and resources that allow for replication of this program to promote aging in place will be shared.