Future Homes: Building better lifestyles for an ageing

populationThe Challenges and Opportunities

Wendy JacksonReablement Consultant

Kent County Council

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

The ageing population??• What is “normal” for an aged

person?

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

The ageing population??• What difficulties does an aged person

face?– Sensory disability– Reduced strength, stamina, flexibility– Memory problems– Other physical and psychological

problems

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Not just age or the ageing population

Having a long term condition, learning disability or mental health problem

doesn’t stop you from ageing

An older person will often have other physical and psychological needs

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

ReablementRehabilitation + Enablement

= Reablement

• Reablement of the person within their home environment

• Equipment & adaptations• Assistive technology

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Disabling Environments– Access difficulties

• Stairs, steps & thresholds

• Doorway width

• Tight turning circles

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Disabling Environments– Fixtures and Fittings

• Furniture• Handles • Bathrooms & kitchens

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

People can be enabled by good design

• Lifetime Homes 16 Design Criteria

• Well designed equipment

• Well placed adaptations

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

What do people want from their homes?

• Independence • Confidence• Dignity• Ease• Security • Familiarity• Continuity

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

NormalisationThe normalisation principle means making available to all people with

disabilities patterns of life and conditions of everyday living which are as close as

possible to the regular circumstances and ways of life or society

Wolfensberger, 1972 Advocates emphasise that the environment, not the person, is what is

normalised.

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Normalised Assistive Technology

• Sensor alarms – Fire– Carbon monoxide– Intruder alarm

• Automatic reminders• Remote control units• Touch sensitive switches• Anti slip flooring

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Appearance & Acceptibilityinclusive not intrusive

4600mm

3950mm

+50mm

+100mm

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Appearance & Acceptibility

inclusive not intrusive

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

• No boxes and wiring

• Discreet colour or tactile contrast

Lifetime use

Using an alarm system throughout all life stages

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Lifetime House

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

• Smart wired for detectors and services

– Alarm systems for fire, flood and intruders– Automatic sensors to monitor lighting and

temperature– Video cork board– Time activated reminders– Video phones

Lifetime House• Two way or sliding doors• Integral handles• Wall and flooring materials• Motion sensitive lighting• Link to monitoring systems when

required

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

“Occupational Therapists are one of the professional groups to which architects

can look for knowledge about aging (sic) as it applies to built environments”

Ware.C., (Ed) (1993) Design for Aging: Strategies for Collaboration between Architects and Occupational Therapists.

American Occupational Therapy Association

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Future Homes: Building better lifestyles for an ageing

populationOPPORTUNITY To use smart technology and design in

an enabling way

CHALLENGE To do so in a way that is seen by us all

as part of normal housing.

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting

Future Homes: Building better lifestyles for an ageing

populationThe Challenges and Opportunities

Wendy JacksonReablement Consultant

Kent County Council

Promoting & Sustaining Independence in a Community Setting