February 6, 2012

Construction and design modifications can promote elderly independence

PETER CAULFIELD

correspondent

Intelligent modification by designers and builders to the single and multi-tenant homes of the elderly gives them more control over their living environments and can help promote their independence, says a U.S. expert in environmental psychology.

Dr. DAK Kopec, associate professor of design thinking at Radford University in Radford, Virginia, will speak on the topic at Buildex Vancouver.

Kopec said everyone faces a gradually lengthening list of physical and sensory limitations, as they get older, that affects their ability to live on their own.

“As we age, we develop arthritis in our feet and our hands,” he said.

“Our balance, dexterity and strength can be affected.”

In addition, diminished sensory perception leads to impaired vision and hearing.

“As a result, there is a greater possibility for the elderly to, for example, scald themselves,” he said.

“So, there should be visual indicators present to enable them to gauge water temperature.”

Although many elderly people are eligible to receive disability assistance, some of them don’t take advantage of the opportunity.

“Many disabled elderly don’t believe they are, in fact, disabled,” Kopec said. “There’s a social stigma attached to disabilities. In most cases, physical and mental capabilities decline gradually as we age. That gives us time to develop and adopt coping strategies, so we think we’re OK when we’re not.”

Kopec said there are ways in which designers and builders can create comfortable and safe homes for the elderly that take account of their special needs.

“For example, rounded walls limit bruising and fractures that are caused by a fall against a right-angled wall,” he said.

Another tip for builders is to include built-in respite areas.

“Benches inside a door can be used to sit on, or as a place to store shoes,” he said.

In addition, benches in shower stalls are a good idea, as older people are prone to vertigo when their eyes are closed.

Kopec suggests installing stylish grab bars along hallways and in bathrooms and kitchens.

“The key here is that the grab bars must not look clinical,” he said.

“They need to be incorporated into the overall design.”

Stylish design is a better choice because health care settings are also behavioral settings.

“The behavior of elderly residents can be influenced by the look and feel of grab bars and other design features,” he said.

The idea is that, if the grab bars are stylish, not clinical, in appearance, the elderly will act more autonomously and less like dependent patients.

At the same time, builders of multi-tenant buildings should avoid high-contrast patterns on the floors of lobbies and hall ways. Some contrast is good, he said, but too much is bad.

As people age, their brains get slower and their pupils don’t dilate as well and they can be fooled into seeing things that aren’t there.

Kopec said there should be long lighting transition zones in multi-tenant buildings.

“The eyes of older people do not dilate or constrict as fast as younger people,” he said.

“So, in high density developments, there should be a covered area outside of the main doors to the lobby and the lobby should have an additional lighting transition to the darker deep areas of the building.”

Kopec said that following these guidelines will increase the cost of construction.

“But the amount is nominal, especially when it can cost as much as five times more to retrofit existing construction,” he said.

Kopec said these principles are in line with cultural norms.

“In North America, we tend toward accommodation of the elderly,” he said.

“We strive to allow our elderly to live independent lives for as long as possible.”

Other societies, such as Middle Eastern and Latin, are different.

“There is tendency to promote co-dependence,” Kopec explained.

“The notion is that family is supposed to help family, but if we help too much, ‘learned helpless’ can result.”

A balance must be found.

“We in North American societies have tremendous pride in being self-sufficient,” Kopec said.

“As a result, if we can make environments more accommodating to the varying abilities of the elderly, they will be independent longer and thus be more healthy psychologically.”

The Elderly Population (Session T19) is on Feb. 9 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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