It happens to all of us without exception. We as human beings are all subject to ageing. As we grow old, the fact that we also need a place to live doesn’t change at all. In fact, I would argue that it becomes even more important. Ageing, in terms of biology, brings about mental and physical changes in the human body. Accompanying this is a social change as the person grows older and their coping with their new lot in life. Subsequently there are many things to consider when designing a new house for old people. You want to minimise confusion, lowering the mental load required to live in the house and be accessible to those that minor physical impairments that are tolerable but still annoying to live with.
Access Points and Layout
An important thing to consider when designing a house for old people is how they are going to get in and out of it in the first place. Doors, windows, the spaces and rooms in which they must navigate are the first steps. Even the path that leads to a door has to be considered.
When a house’s entrance is not at street level, there is usually a step or two to be climbed before being able to enter. It is not surprising for areas prone to flooding to be raised up as far as a metre and a half in total from street. However, in less extreme cases, the simple inclusions or the replacement of the steps with a ramp could prove to be quite accommodating. A gentle slope would aid old people who wheel things around (like their grandchildren in prams perhaps?) and is less harsh than a set of staircases when fallen on. If a ramp proves unfeasible, perhaps a staircase with a greater tread depth and shorter rise height with accompanying handholds would be more amenable.
As for the front door and other entrances to the house, there is also the issue of security to consider. Rather, the locks and keys. They are fiddly little things, having to remember what key goes where and to actually use them when there are multiple copies. This can be a hassle for those older people who have difficulty with fine physical tasks or those that a slightly deteriorated sight. Wouldn’t it just be better and faster if plastic cards like those used on a bus?
Speaking of doors they should be minimalised. That or the there should be a way to distinguish between the rooms with just a look. Maybe using signs on them or having windowed/glass doors. Their layout too should not be too close to each other to avoid confusing one door for another. This is highly dependent on how the house is laid out of course. The issue of door design also comes in to play, if there is to be a door as opposed to just a doorway. Would folding doors be easier to open and close than normal doors?
Likewise windows should be easy to open and close and easy to maintain. You wouldn’t want a window that requires an old person to find a ladder to clean it. It would also be good to have a window, no matter how small in each room. Even at night a little light is better than no light because to turn the lights on you have to find the light switch first.
Furniture and Fiddly Bits
Lighting and their switches should be bigger. Small light switches close to each other are a no-no. With larger light switches placed in easily found positions. with at most two switches close but still separate to each other, the easier it is to remember which switch goes where. The direction in which a switch is flipped to turn on a light must also be consistent. Because of this I think two-way switches should be discouraged.
Electrical sockets should also be raised a bit higher. This stops forcing older people to bend over or lower themselves to use it (helpful when it’s hard to get back up). Another unrelated benefit is that such sockets would also now be out of react of infant grandchildren.
As for furniture, it really depends on taste but there are some bits of it that could be considered. Specifically it is the storage cabinets and drawers. There should be a way to indicate what the contents are without having to open them all one at the time. Big signs and handles as well as the location of said handles and signs can help shorten the time taken in search of an item.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms generally hold the most area for improvement in terms of designing for the elderly. For kitchens, it is mainly about the stowage of cooking utensils which has already been discussed. The concern here is mainly the layout of the kitchen. Ideally, everything would be around waist to chest height to minimise unnecessary movement. However, this could be an inefficient use of space so careful planning of how to structure storage vis-a-vis counter tops must be considered. Even cupboards out of my reach are annoying for me.
Bathrooms as well can feature a small change that could make showers easier; a seat or a stool. Even better in places where there is no running water. Likewise handholds, whether for the toilet seat or otherwise could be help. Speaking of the toilet, I’ve never understood why the flushing mechanism has to be in such a hard to reach place. It works and is easy in terms of mechanics but perhaps a better placement of the flush on the toilet would be better for everyone and not just old people.
Personal and Cultural Considerations
Finally there are personal and cultural factors to consider. Things like Ageism play a part in how old people perceive themselves, and this also varies from country to country. In the West, old people might consider themselves better if they felt they were still independent whereas in Far Eastern cultures, peace of mind comes from the fact that they are not a burden to society. They sentiments may have some overlap but there is a difference between them.
Speaking of culture, things like Feng Shui also still play a large part in homeowners of Chinese ancestry. Details like to have the kitchen as the lowest part of the house to accumulate wealth must also be taken in to account when designing.
These are just some ideas I’ve had about homes for old people, some of which I think could carry over well in to normal house designs.
Non-excluding Design 