Building Age-Friendly Homes

Aging — that of ourselves or of our loved ones — can be a painful subject. Too often, elderly people and their families fear the prospect of moving their older relatives to a senior living facility, worried that it will sever their social connections and accelerate their mental degradation.

But as Michelle Gagnon-Creeley writes in an article for Happy Cities, it doesn’t have to be this way. Designing buildings and communities with older people in mind can support their independence while offering a sense of safety and community.

“Socially connected neighbours are healthier, more resilient, and often able to stay longer in their home and community as they age. The design of our homes can help foster these connections,” Gagnon-Creeley adds. The article summarizes findings from a Happy Cities study that analyzed 20 senior housing buildings in British Columbia, evaluating how they each foster connection and community.

The article outlines four key strategies for designing age-friendly homes: “social homes” that offer opportunities for interaction and accommodate changing mobility needs; “social circulation” that transforms transitional spaces like stairwells and hallways into comfortable, social spaces; “social amenities” that offer activities for stimulation and gathering; and “social building edges,” the transition zones between public and private spaces that can be elevated to provide a visual connection to the street and outdoor recreation areas.