A leading expert in housing solutions for older people has called for better product and technology design to enable more people to remain in their homes.

“We have to have assistive technology, that people can buy at Bunnings, which is going to improve their home and make it more welcoming and more attractive and not make it look like a nursing home,” says UNSW Emeritus Professor Catherine Bridge.

Professor Bridge has done extensive research on home modification interventions and how they can assist in recovery after surgery and ongoing healthy ageing in place.

A member of the COTA NSW Policy Advisory Group, Professor Bridge spoke to ABC Radio Sydney about modifying or adapting homes to suit the needs of people post major knee and hip surgery.

“We need support from other people, we need support like tax incentives and we need better products that we want to have in our homes,” she says.

You can listen in full to the segment below.