From evidence to practice: developing and applying a post-occupancy evaluation framework to extra care housing in the UK

This study develops and validates an evidence-based post-occupancy evaluation (POE) framework specifically tailored to extra care housing (ECH), addressing the lack of comprehensive tools for assessing how built environments influence residents’ quality of life (QoL). Combining a systematic literature review with interviews of architects and care managers, the research produced a 116-item checklist covering six core QoL domains: independence, general satisfaction, health and safety, community, choice and control, and sense of place. Applied across four ECH facilities in the UK, the framework highlighted the importance of spatial adaptability, accessibility, communal integration, and personalization in enhancing residents’ wellbeing. Findings demonstrate its effectiveness in identifying key environmental factors supporting aging-in-place strategies. This framework provides a novel, replicable evaluation tool bridging design, care practices, and QoL outcomes, offering architects, care providers, and policymakers actionable insights for optimizing existing facilities and guiding future developments to better support autonomy, social engagement, and holistic aging experiences.