Designing Safe Housing Environments for Older Adults

Older adults spend a large part of their lives in their homes and carry out important tasks within them. According to social determinants of health, the built environment is one of five topics that affect health and quality of life. With population aging coming into focus, designing safe home environments for older adults is a topic of serious discussion. The physical characteristics of the environment have a direct impact on the comfort and confidence of users and can significantly influence the aging process. This book addresses the key issues to consider when focusing on the design for safe and comfortable living for older adults. Presenting design strategies for housing environments for older adults based on the concepts of aging in place, human factors, and safety, it covers topics such as activities of daily living, independence, autonomy and dependence, risk factors for falls, types of environmental adaptations, and safe housing. Design solutions are offered, and each housing space reveals explanations and ideas for improving activities for residents. Split into two sections, the book takes a theoretical approach that provides notes about important concepts that need to be learned before starting the project or adapting a housing environment. It then shows the practical measures that are necessary to be implemented in environments, based on the level of safety. The reader will obtain a full and thorough knowledge of the key design considerations to deliver retrofits and new ideas to existing properties. Designing Safe Housing Environments for Older Adults is an ideal read for professionals in the fields of health and safety, ergonomics and human factors, designers, civil engineers, architects, and interior designers.

Juliana Tasca Tissot is Professor of Faculty of Architecture at the Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil. She has a bachelor, master's, and PhD degree in architecture. She was Visiting Scholar at the University of Illinois supervised by Dr. Wendy Rogers in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health in 2022. She is certified as an Aging in Place Specialist by NAHB. Her research interests include design for aging with a focus on the built environment. She also studies the relationship between the reduction of falls, usability of the space, accessibility, and healthy aging.

Section I. Theoretical Approach. Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview. Chapter 2. Aspects That Influence the Use of Housing Space by Older Adults. Chapter 3. Concepts About Housing and Aging. Chapter 4. Fall Risk Factors. Chapter 5. Categories for Home Improvement. Section II. Practical Approach. Chapter 6. Practical Design Considerations Overview. Chapter 7. Front Door. Chapter 8. Living Room. Chapter 9. Dining Room. Chapter 10. Kitchen. Chapter 11. Laundry Room. Chapter 12. Bathroom. Chapter 13. Bedroom. Chapter 14. Closet. Chapter 15. Home Office. Chapter 16. Other Spaces. Section III. Final Considerations. Chapter 17. General Guidelines. Chapter 18. Conclusions. References.