Ageing in place refers to the ability for the elderly to be able to continue living in their own home and community – safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. This can often mean that homes must be redesigned to accommodate the changing needs of the residents.
With a higher life expectancy and a maturing baby boomer generation, the UK’s population is set to grow by 10 per cent over the next five years, and a rapidly ageing population will have an impact on society and the economy, creating a challenge for architects and designers to design a living environment suitable for the occupants, allowing them independence and autonomy.
Four key design features can support ageing in place. A home needs to be easy to enter, easy to navigate in and around, be capable of easy and cost-efficient adaptation, and be responsive to the changing requirements of the occupants.
Architects can reference these key design features to enable living spaces to be easily adapted to meet the needs of occupants such as ageing baby boomers, and those living with disabilities acquired with age.
The primary objective of liveable home design is to help provide both comfort and quality of life to occupants while greatly reducing future costs. If accessible features are integrated at the design stage, it can help reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents.
The bathroom, one of the most used rooms in any home, is a high-risk zone for slips and falls, and for ageing in place to be a viable option, the accessible bathroom needs to be adaptable to varying levels of mobility and independence as they change with time.
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21 August,2020
