About the Book
Aging in the Designed Environment is a key sourcebook for developing and implementing
environmental designs for the aging. The physical environment remains one of the most
overlooked areas in environmental design. In order to move beyond this status quo,
persons responsible for planning elderly environments must develop a new understanding of
ways in which their influence can improve the older adultıs physical and mental
functioning. Occupational and physical therapists, as well as other health care
professionals, will benefit tremendously from the information presented in this unique
volume. Designers, developers, and others with minimal health care background will also
find a wealth of possibilities within Aging in the Designed Environment.
The first section describes the implications that occur when there are changes in
vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and the kinesthetic systems. Recommendations for
environmental adaptation and modifications which may compensate for the changes in each
of these systems are suggested. The second section stresses the relationship between
behavior and environment. A variety of environmental attributes--comfort, privacy,
accessibility, control, security, dignity--and their impacts are discussed, along with
information on ways that attributes can be incorporated into the living settings of older
people. In section three the focus is on the older person living independently in his or
her own home, and section four covers exclusively the design and selection of chairs for
older adults. New ways to assess and evaluate the home to promote independence beyond the
traditional activities of daily living are addressed. The last section deals with
redesigning the existing long-term care facility. The author examines some of the
environmental conditions existing in specific facilities and provides recommendations to
compensate for these circumstances.
Contents
- Introduction
- Adaptations of the Physical Environment to Compensate for Sensory Changes
- Designing for the Older Person by Addressing Environmental Attributes
- Enhancing Independence in the Home Setting
- Chair Design and Selection for Older Adults
- Redesigning the Long-Term Care Facility
- Appendix
- Reference Notes Included
Reviews
"Presents the environment as the untapped treatment modality that can maximize a
person's functional abilities when designed effectively... integrates theory with practice
to provide a very coherent and stimulating book."
Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
"Provides detailed information on how to adapt the physical environment to compensate
for sensory changes common to aging, enhance independence in the home, and redesign long
term care facilities. An excellent resource for modifying the environment."
Magic, Mystery, Modification & Mirth: The Joyful Road to Restraint Free
Care
"A well-written, positive, upbeat, practical, do-able approach to the issue of living
environments (individual home to congregate) for the older population. It will be helpful
to occupational therapists, physical therapists, administrators, designers, and families.
It is a well-referenced text based on many years of practical experience and research. I
highly recommend it."
A. Joy Huss, MS, OTR, RPT, FAOTA, Associate Professor, Program in
Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota
"A welcome and refreshing addition to the field of environmental design. It clearly and
concisely pulls together a wide range of information relating to the physical, sensory,
and psychosocial needs of the older person in the built environment. It is well-written
and provides both practical design guidelines as well as easy to understand research data
relating to the elderly that will be valuable to both the professional as well as the
nonprofessional."
Evelyn Cohen, MA, Gerontological Design Consultant, Evelyn Cohen & Associates,
Santa Monica, California
