Emerging Dimensions of Senior Friendly Built Environment in Aging Societies

The purpose of my paper is to explore the methodology of my empirical research concerning analyses of senior friendly built environment in aging societies. This methodology is based on a framework of nine emerging dimensions, which result from the relationship between design, spatial experiences and quality of life define senior friendly care housing. The nine emerging dimensions are: 1. Building organisation. Through this emerging dimension I summarise buildings in a way that is relevant to the residents’ quality of life.  2. Safety and health and architectural design of senior care housing. 3. Regulations and guidelines as well as their impact to the felling of well - being in senior care housing. 4. Privacy. According to several researchers, privacy is a most important aspect of the environment for older people (Morgan and Steward 1998, Duffy et al. 1996). 5. Ability to personalise the surrounding (personalisation as a factor, which allows the transformation of a care housing setting to a home). 6. Orientation – Disorientation – Confusion regarding place, time, personal identity, or social situation – is common among people with dementia (Cohen & Weisman, 1991). 7. Sensory simulation is concerned with the different elements of sight, smell, hearing and touch. 8. Conflicts between different building users (because senior care housing is not only a living setting but also a staff’s working place). 9. Participation and contributions of older people.

The objective of the presented method is to compile a comprehensive review of senior care housing features essential for residents and exposing potential and importance of design to improve senior quality of life.