Healthy residential environments for the elderly

This chapter focuses on the role of the spatial-physical dimensions of the residential environment in influencing the psychological wellbeing and the overall quality of life of the elderly population. In recent years, the progressive and rapid aging of the world population (particularly in the Western countries) makes crucial the identification of those factors which may either reduce the impact of negative consequences of ageing (e.g., the possible decline of physical and cognitive functions) and improve the elderly resilience and coping strategies in order to promote a “successful ageing”. Among the main psychological patterns studied as predictors of elderly wellbeing we find self-efficacy, mastery (or perceived control), everyday competence, autonomy, proactivity (vs. reactivity), assimilation (vs. accommodation), and problem-solving strategies. Such patterns need to be considered in the light of the environmental context where they occur, since spatial-physical features may be perceived as either facilitators or inhibitors by the old person, thus triggering either satisfaction or rather frustration responses. Within this perspective, design issues assume a prominent importance for promoting healthy residential environments for the elderly, bearing in mind that the residential place is typically the main environment experienced by the aged people. Given the growth of the elderly population, it is expected an increased effort for the design of proper residential facilities for the older adults. In particular, it is here supported a design approach aiming at improving the liveability of the spatial-physical settings through a “user-centered” design, which encompasses the involvement of the users in the design and evaluation processes.