Self-determination in later years
Autonomy and ensuring meaning through communal living and supportive forms of housing
The ageing silver society is creating increased demand for more age-appropriate housing. The meaning of “age-appropriate” will also change.
In most Western societies, the number of older people will increase disproportionately. There are expected to be up to 800,000 very elderly people in Switzerland by 2050. Many of them, due to their good health and level of overall fitness, will be able to continue to carry out a substantial part of their daily activities independently. However, a proportion of the older population will also be partly or largely dependent on care. Despite this, the current health system structures are not geared towards meeting these requirements. Not only because there is a shortage of care home places, but also because the majority of older people wish to retain the freedom they have and do not want to live an isolated life in a care facility.
The development of future-focussed services for an ageing population often falls short because quality of life in the health care system is primarily aimed at maximising lifespan. This does not take sufficient account of the fact that constraints caused by diminished capabilities or physical infirmities make everyday life more difficult. Despite ever-improving medical care, we must accept that ageing involves limitations and that physical and mental fitness needs to be fostered. Promoting social contacts is an important aspect of preventing loneliness and ensuring happy and dignified later years.
Social and physical interaction between people is a central pillar of an intact society. In the context of increasing life expectancy, this applies not only to interaction within the same age group, but also, in particular, to the promotion of contacts between different generations. This also creates opportunities to support each other in everyday life, such as with childcare or household chores.
From a societal perspective, it is important to further the debate on the potential and limitations for facilitating a meaningful, long life from a wider viewpoint. This includes everything from the development of age-appropriate infrastructure to new forms of coexistence, but in particular an investigation into how the final phase of life can be shaped to ensure self-determination and dignity.
Ideas for housing in the age of the silver society
Housing and infrastructure which allow independent living despite age-related restrictions will become a key pillar of future society.
They are a response to the need for a self-determined life felt by the majority of the population and they relieve the burden on care centres. Technological home care solutions can help to make support services simple and discreet. This includes digital assistants that make it easier to stand up and move around, sensors that detect falls and virtual interfaces that enable social interaction or discussions with healthcare professionals from home.
Social interaction between different generations is promoted by new forms of housing.
Direct interaction between younger and older people and mutual support in everyday life can be promoted through intergenerational housing estates or buildings as well as through communal rooms.
Age-appropriate housing is geared not only to accessibility and safety, but also to promoting exercise.
In addition to greater convenience and safety, housing can also be used to promote physical activity, for example through the age-appropriate design of stairs and motivating people to use them. The degree of automation can be reduced in favour of more physical activity.
Together with the think tank W.I.R.E., Livit is venturing to take a look at the world of tomorrow to mark its 60th anniversary. The project examines six long-term developments in terms of their consequences for our daily lives and the spaces where we live and work. This is the last post in our “Future” series. Have you missed a post? You can read all the articles here: