Upgrading buildings for older people

Judith TorringtonUniversity of Sheffield School of Architecture

NE Region Housing LIN Darlington

16 September 2004

Where old people liveage concern website statistics

Age Own home

Sheltered housing

Care home or hospital

65-74 88% 11% 1%

75-84 72% 23% 5%

85+ 60% 19% 21%

Changing circumstancesthere’s a lot of living to be done between the ages of 65 and 95

Virtuous circles: managing change• Choice – what do people want?• Consultation – who is in charge?• Research – how do buildings

impact on well-being? • Opportunity – what are the

options?• Finance – what will it cost?

Consultation

• Access to the community

• The layout of the building

• Private spaces • Communal spaces• Outside areas• Aspirations and

preferences

safety & health

community

comfort

physical support

physical support

choice & control

comfort

personalisation

Quality of life

High dependency

Low dependency

Research findings DICE

Wish list : emerging themes• Music (listening, singing, social participation,

dancing, etc) • Getting outside• Social contact• Conversation• Laughter • Physical activity, walking & exercise• Carer support• Mental stimulation• Meals & food• Memory (spatial & temporal orientation)

Research findings INDEPENDENT

Changing circumstancesimpairments of ageing

Space for access

• Wheelchair access

• Changes of level

• Access for restricted mobility

• Space for care

1300mm

1200mm

600mm550mm

1400mm1200mm

600mm

1100mm-850mm

660mm500mm

-

300mm

1500mm

1700mm

1070mm-865mm

Physical support

Wayfinding

Some thirty inches from my nose

The frontier of my person goes,

And all the untilled air between

Is private Pagus or demesne.

Stranger, unless with bedroom eyes

I beckon you to fraternise,

Beware of rudely crossing it:

I have no gun, but I can spitW. H. Auden About the House

Private and personal space

Bring me sunshine

Community and society

Managing the building process

•Regular renewal of fabric

•Cleaning and maintenance

•Installations

•Decoration and renewal of finishes and fittings

•Building fabric renewal

•Emergencies

•Major upgrades and renewal

The renewal cycle

• Low or no cost options• Medium cost • Major renewal

•Current standards

•Misfits

•Performance

•Profitability

•Best practice

•Quality

•New development

•Strategic plan

Making a building appraisal:

before after

References:

Judith Torrington Upgrading buildings for older people (2004) RIBA Enterprises

Robson, D., A.-M. Nicholson, et al. (1997). Homes for the Third Age. London, E and FN Spon.

Phillips, M., P. Fletcher, et al. (1999). Involving Older People in Upheaval and Change in Their Housing Environment, Housing 21.

Trotter, E., M. Phillips, et al. (1998). Remodelled Sheltered Housing, Housing 21.