National Pain Week 2026: Why Home Matters for People Living with Persistent Pain

As part of National Pain Week 2026, The Hopkins Centre is highlighting research that is expanding our understanding of how everyday environments can influence the experience of chronic pain.

For many people living with persistent pain, home is more than just a place to live—it can play a significant role in health, wellbeing and participation in daily life. New research from The Hopkins Centre has found that feeling safe, supported and able to maintain meaningful routines and activities at home is associated with better mental health and may influence how pain affects everyday life.   

Published in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, the mixed methods study explored how people with chronic pain experience their home environments and examined the relationship between home, pain and psychological wellbeing. The findings reinforce that effective pain management extends beyond medical treatment alone, recognising the important role that physical, social and emotional environments play in supporting health and quality of life.

The study was co-authored by Hopkins Centre researchers Dr Jayke Bennett, Professor Louise Gustafsson, Dr Tammy Aplin and Dr Nicholas Aitcheson, alongside lead author Annabelle Johnston and Jessica Holding. Their work contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting person-centred approaches to chronic pain management that consider the environments in which people live every day.

The findings also have important implications for occupational therapy, rehabilitation and health service design, helping clinicians better understand how home environments can support participation, independence and wellbeing for people living with persistent pain. By recognising home as an integral part of pain management, the research provides valuable evidence to inform future practice, service planning and policy.

During National Pain Week (26–31 July), this research highlights The Hopkins Centre's commitment to improving the lives of people living with chronic pain through collaborative, evidence-based research that translates into practical improvements in care and everyday living.

Read the publication: New Publication Explores the Experience of Home for People with Chronic Pain