Elderly Housing

Facility Experience

 The ability to make one’s own decisions,  try new things, or even experience new places are a few of the results of independence.  We begin our lives anxiously awaiting independence, reap its rewards, and then have it taken away slowly and painfully.  Why do we, as designers, children, and staff of the elderly continue to accept this behavior.  We must put ourselves in the shoes of  the elderly to adequately produce a positive living environment. We want the elderly to move into a place that feels somewhat like their existing home, if not more comfortable. Personalization and possibly ownership of the establishment will help encourage this comfort.  Even more importantly than establishing a “homey” environment is producing a place which stresses independence.  Allow the residence to keep their cars, give them areas of the estate to plant flowers, garden, and design areas for company to come and have cook-outs.  We as designers must disregard our typical design solutions and keep in mind that the residents of this particular project will spend approximately 90% of their time at home.  Establishing community activities such as including a daycare or a farmers market in the establishment gives the residents something to look forward to.  Creating areas for the residents to go fishing or play bridge will all promote independence.  At any age level our human tendency is to want to have pride in the important issues in our lives.  Housing and individual goal achievement are crucial to this tendency.  We must create an environment the residents are proud to call home.  Attractive design and landscape are therefore crucial.  Also, challenging the residents keeps attitudes positive and promotes physical fitness.  For example, placing a beautiful gazebo surrounded by roses a distance from the residence gives the clients a challenge, a destination, and something to look forward to.  The better the moral, theless depression, and therefore less sickness. This I offer as a challenge not to be overlooked. - jj
 

Links To Featured Project

To Parent Directory

eslarp2.landarch.uiuc.edu - /la/LA338-S00/groups/o/

html by: Jassen Johnson