Inclusive Living Community Design
If you design only for the young, then you exclude the old; but if you design for the old, then you also take the young into account.
1.1 Familiarity
Familiar outdoor situations can help older persons overcome memory issues, and this is especially true for older adults who have a hazy sense of spatial direction. They are more likely to become perplexed when presented with big changes in their environment.
Especially with many modern designs, older people often don’t understand the purpose of the design. For example, the logo for the information desk below is usually written with a lowercase “i”, which stands for information, but think about it, how can older people understand it?
（Source from：https://cn.bing.com/dict/Store-room）
We might as well use this more visual sign.
（Source from：https://cn.bing.com/dict/Store-room）
2.2 Uniqueness and color sensitivity
It was discovered that most older persons, particularly those with dementia, do not usually take the seemingly shortest route to their destination; rather, the intriguing character of the path influences their decision. When asked why, they responded, “I like diverse architecture.””This street is more interesting and colourful.” Streets with character not only make walking more enjoyable, but they also assist those with dementia in finding their way around.
The world through the eyes of ordinary people (left) and the world through the eyes of older people (right)
（Source from：https://cn.bing.com/dict/Store-room）
3.3 Safety
“The Costs of Exclusion: Recognizing a Role for Local Communities in Biodiversity Conservation” (Ancrenaz, Dabek, & O’Neil, 2007)
Streets that are safe ought to include completely surrounded by buildings, have distinct bike lanes, and have wide, level, well-lit, and well defined footpaths. Seniors can enjoy the outdoors without fear of tripping, getting struck by people and cars, or getting attacked.
We all know the basics of safety and security, but there is one thing that most of us probably don’t realize, and that’s the “paving pattern”.
Source from：https://www.gooood.cn/remodelling-of-passeig-de-st-joan-boulevard-by-lola-domenech.htm
I know that designers like to generate contrast in the texture of paving, such as the one shown, which appears rhythmic. However, these dividers are undoubtedly a “time bomb” when walking, and elderly persons with vision problems may even recognise them as steps.
3.4 Case Study
（Source from：https://hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com/）
The village’s surroundings, which include realistic features like supermarkets and mock bus stops, are specifically designed for elderly individuals suffering from dementia. This helps the patients feel at ease and keep their sense of independence.
In Conclusion
“Through case studies and practical examples, Design Thinking for Social Innovation demonstrates the potential of design thinking to drive positive change and empower communities to address complex societal problems” (Brown & Wyatt, 2020).
Reference list
Ancrenaz, M., Dabek, L. and O’Neil, S. (2007). The Costs of Exclusion: Recognizing a Role for Local Communities in Biodiversity Conservation. PLoS Biology, 5(11), p.e289. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050289.
Brown, T. and Wyatt, J. (2020). Design Thinking for Social Innovation. Development Outreach, 12(1), pp.29–43.
Carey, E.C., Covinsky, K.E., Lui, L.-Y., Eng, C., Sands, L.P. and Walter, L.C. (2008). Prediction of Mortality in Community-Living Frail Elderly People with Long-Term Care Needs. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 56(1), pp.68–75. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01496.x.
Kenny, R.A. (2000). The Newcastle protocols for head-up tilt table testing in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope, carotid sinus hypersensitivity, and related disorders. Heart, 83(5), pp.564–569. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/heart.83.5.564.
Nowadays, most people are paying attention to child-friendly communities, culture-friendly communities and youth-friendly communities. . . . . However, an important group has been ignored — the elderly, who also have unique needs for the city life. In this blog, the author discusses some design directions for an inclusive living community.
The article points out that a familiar outdoor living environment, unique and bright architectural colors and a variety of safety and protection facilities can better satisfy the needs of the elderly for community life. In addition to these environmental factors, i think that we can also consider more from the perspective of the elderly themselves, like the case given by the author: a friendly community for the elderly with dementia. Different elderly people have different needs, so the design must be based on the needs of the elderly in the actual community.
In addition, if we want to achieve this goal, we need more practical cases, social participation and policy support. This is a very interesting and realistic topic. Pay attention to the needs of the elderly and build a safer community environment so that they could duiring a more comfortabler life.
References:
1. Beasley, N.J. & University of Newcastle upon Tyne (1984) Thesis (B. Med. Sci.)–University of Newcastle upon Tyne. 1984. The support and management of mentally impaired elderly people living in the community of Byker. Newcastle upon Tyne: University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
2. Tomioka, K., Kurumatani, N. & Hosoi, H. (2017) ‘Positive and negative influences of social participation on physical and mental health among community-dwelling elderly aged 65-70 years: a cross-sectional study in Japan’, BMC geriatrics, 17(1), pp. 111–111.
Ziyu, your post provides valuable insights into inclusive design. This is especially true for creating age-friendly spaces. However, an expansion of this concept could further enrich the discussion.
First, designing for older people favors younger users. But, it’s important to consider that younger users may have unique needs. These needs may be overlooked if the design only prioritizes older people. For example, urban spaces for older people are often slower. They may not cater to the vibrant lives of younger people. Flexible design elements can make spaces vibrant. They can appeal to all ages. Lynch (1960) said good urban design must consider ‘diversity and flexibility.’ It must cater for a wide range of people.
The Hogeweyk Dementia Village case study shows the power of thoughtful design. It creates supportive environments for people with cognitive disabilities. In addition, other examples show this. For instance, Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre shows how architecture can greatly impact its users’ mental health. This happens through inclusive and empathetic design (Jencks & Heathcote, 2010).
In conclusion, designing for older people includes the needs of younger users. But, a balanced approach considers the needs of all age groups. It can create places that are more appealing and functional for everyone.
References
1.Lynch, K. (1960). The Image of the City. Cambridge: MIT Press.
2.Mitchell, L., & Burton, E. (2010). “Designing dementia-friendly neighbourhoods: Helping people with dementia to get out and about.” Journal of Integrated Care, 18(6), 11-18.
3.Jencks, C., & Heathcote, E. (2010). The Architecture of Hope: Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. London: Frances Lincoln Ltd.
4.Brown, T., & Wyatt, J. (2020). Design Thinking for Social Innovation. Stanford Social Innovation Review.