Design For Older Adults

Physiological Changes

  1. Sensory Loss and Changing Perception 

  • Vision 

  • Hearing

  • Touch 

  • Taste

  • Smell

  1. Decline of Central nervous system and cognitive functions

  2. Decline of Muscular and Skeletal system

  3. Reduced ability to adapt to temperature changes

  4. Disease: 

  • Arthritis and rheumatism, heart disease and high blood pressure 

Social and Functional Changes 

Family Structure and work role = Reduced social network 

Income =Reduced Sense of Security and control 

Mobility and Sphere of Activity = Diminished self-confidence

Psychological Changes 

  • Reduced sense of security and control

  • Depression

  • Diminished self-confidence

  • Lower stress threshold 

  • Reduced desire for interactions with the large enviroment 

General Design Response 

Respond to Physiological Changes

Sensory Loss = Design response: Rich and more “readable” sensory cues  

Design for deceased vision 

  • Light 

Need more light and greater contrast (when distinction is needed) 

  • Colors 

Bright colors in orange-yellow-red spectrum easier for elderly to see than darker colors in blue- green range. 

Design for Decreased Vision 

Wall mounted object cannot project more than 4” beyond the wall 

The cane-detectable area: A person using a cane can only detect objects with a bottom edge that is 27 inches or less from the finished floor.

Overhead objecte must be at least 80” off the floor.

Falling (a huge problem) 

  • Can cause moderate to severe injuries (Hip fracture, and head injuries) 

  • 1 out of 3 older people falls each year

  • The leading cause of injury death 

Glare become a biggger problem 

Material choice

  • Provide transition area to give the aging eye enough time to adapt to spaces with different level of light 

  • Avoid unnecesary contrast of light and dark shadows and advancing/ receding color, as they distort depth perception