Cartens, D.Y., 1997, Outdoor spaces in housing for the elderly, in: Cooper Marcus, C. & C. Francis, ‘People places’, Wiley & Sons, Ontario
- Author : Cartens, D.Y.
- Year : 1997
- English Title : Outdoor spaces in housing for the elderly
- Published in Book : People places
- Pages : 210-257
- Abstract in English : For the elderly, comfort, safety and security, ease of access to the outdoors, and opportunities for meeting others and socializing become increasingly important aspects of outdoor use. Equally important are opportunities to enjoy nature and contribute to one’s health and exercise by taking a short walk or just feeling the sun on one’s face. Yet outdoor spaces connected to housing for older people often consist primarily of functional elements such as parking and service areas. Recreational enjoyment of outdoors is often neglected, or treated in a stereotypical way, ignoring the real and varied needs of older people. This chapter offers guidelines and recommendations for the design of outdoor spaces in housing for the elderly. It is dealing with: Design and the aging process, housing for the elderly, literature on design and aging. Design recommendations (and issues) pp. 212-239: general layout and clustering, microclimate, guidelines based on older people’s social and psychological needs, site entry, main entry, shared patios and terraces, private patios and balconies, lawn areas, gardening areas, play areas for visiting children, walkways, walking surfaces, ramp and stairs, handrails, seating, tables, outdoor lighting, outdoor signs, the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s disease in special care units. Case studies (5)of outdoor spaces in housing for the elderly (successful features/unsuccessful features) pp. 239-249; References pp. 249-251. Design review checklist (187 points of attention: goals of the outdoor=spaces, users, building mass and microclimate, site entry and arrival court, parking and secondary building entrances, circulation and orientation, transition zones, lawn areas, private patios and balconies, garden plots, play areas, Health and exercise, enjoying nature, sensory details, social interaction, security, encouragement of independence, seating and tables, handrails, lightings and signage, staffing and management, needs of resident with Alzheimer disease in special care units ) pp. 252-257.