Principles and recommendations to design aging-friendly homes

Abstract

The aging population is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and with it, the number of older adults that decide to age in place. Some public and private efforts have been made in order to better understand the mobility and physical needs of older adults in home environments. However, most of these efforts have missed a holistic definition of home and how the human dwelling is influenced by aging. This thesis is composed of three studies: a national survey, a series of in-home interviews, and an intergenerational workshop. The overall objective of these studies was to understand how older adults live and move within their homes, as well as what their emotional and functional expectations of their homes are. The outcome of this work is a set of principles and recommendations that design professionals can use when designing home environments or home-related products. These principles and recommendations are meant to serve as a guide to approach a project with the right mindset-a mindset that augments empathy and understanding for older adults, and that challenges the preconceptions of what a home is and what it should do for us as we age.