Short answer
When designing residential spaces for older adults, consider the interplay of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors, and tailor solutions to specific regional and demographic contexts.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Building and Environment (2024)
- Method
- Scoping Review
- Sample
- 173 studies
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Designing residential spaces with a holistic understanding of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic comfort significantly improves the well-being and independence of older adults. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in Building and Environment. Using Scoping review with 173 studies, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing residential spaces for older adults, consider the interplay of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors, and tailor solutions to specific regional and demographic contexts.
Optimizing Indoor Environments for Older Adults Enhances Well-being and Autonomy
Designing residential spaces with a holistic understanding of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic comfort significantly improves the well-being and independence of older adults.
Building and Environment · 2024
Key Findings
- 01Existing research on indoor environmental standards for older adults is fragmented and contains contradictions across different comfort domains.
- 02There is a growing trend towards interdisciplinary research that integrates physical, psychological, and social factors in indoor comfort for older adults.
- 03Indoor comfort needs vary significantly based on regional, demographic, cultural, climatic, and residential type differences.
- 04Holistic indoor comfort design is crucial for supporting the autonomy and well-being of older adults, enabling 'aging in place'.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing residential spaces for older adults, consider the interplay of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors, and tailor solutions to specific regional and demographic contexts.
How to apply
When designing or retrofitting residential spaces for older adults, conduct user research that explores their perceptions and needs across thermal, visual, acoustic, air quality, and ergonomic aspects. Use this data to create integrated design solutions that prioritize their autonomy and well-being, acknowledging local context.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, consider a wide range of comfort factors beyond the obvious.
- 02Acknowledge that design solutions are not one-size-fits-all; context is key.
- 03Think about how different design elements interact with each other.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive scoping review methodology.
- +Inclusion of multiple comfort domains.
- +Focus on a critical and growing demographic.
Limitations
It can be challenging to isolate the impact of individual comfort factors due to their interconnectedness. User needs can also vary greatly within the 'older adult' demographic.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the review is enhanced by the systematic PRISMA methodology. Validity is supported by the breadth of domains covered and the focus on a specific demographic. However, the review's findings are based on existing literature, so the validity of the original studies is a factor.
Think critically
How can designers effectively balance potentially conflicting comfort requirements across multiple domains (e.g., optimal lighting for reading versus reducing glare) when designing for older adults?
Design Principles
"Holistic Indoor Comfort Design for Aging Populations: Integrate multiple environmental comfort domains (thermal, air, visual, acoustic, ergonomic) and account for regional/demographic variations to enhance older adult well-being and autonomy."
As the global population ages, creating supportive and comfortable living environments is paramount. This research highlights that a multi-faceted approach to indoor comfort, considering the unique needs of older adults, can directly impact their quality of life, health outcomes, and ability to 'age in place' with dignity.
What This Means for Your Design
Making homes comfortable for older people means thinking about more than just temperature – it's also about good air, clear light, quietness, and easy-to-use features. Doing this helps them live better and more independently.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the findings to justify the selection of specific comfort criteria for your design brief.
- 2.Reference the need for interdisciplinary approaches when discussing your design process.
- 3.Cite the importance of considering multiple comfort domains when evaluating design options.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical need for a holistic approach to indoor comfort for older adults, emphasizing that thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors are interconnected and significantly impact well-being and autonomy. The findings underscore that design standards must be adaptable to regional and demographic variations, moving towards interdisciplinary solutions that support 'aging in place'.
Source
Building and Environment
Indoor comfort domains and well-being of older adults in residential settings: A scoping review
journal · 2024
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about optimizing indoor environments for older adults enhances well-being and autonomy?
- When designing residential spaces for older adults, consider the interplay of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors, and tailor solutions to specific regional and demographic contexts. Evidence: Building and Environment (2024).
- Why does "Optimizing Indoor Environments for Older Adults Enhances Well-being and Autonomy" matter for design?
- As the global population ages, creating supportive and comfortable living environments is paramount. This research highlights that a multi-faceted approach to indoor comfort, considering the unique needs of older adults, can directly impact their quality of life, health outcomes, and ability to 'age in place' with dignity.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing residential spaces for older adults, consider the interplay of thermal, air quality, visual, acoustic, and ergonomic factors, and tailor solutions to specific regional and demographic contexts.
- What were the main findings?
- Existing research on indoor environmental standards for older adults is fragmented and contains contradictions across different comfort domains.. There is a growing trend towards interdisciplinary research that integrates physical, psychological, and social factors in indoor comfort for older adults.. Indoor comfort needs vary significantly based on regional, demographic, cultural, climatic, and residential type differences.. Holistic indoor comfort design is crucial for supporting the autonomy and well-being of older adults, enabling 'aging in place'.
- What research method was used?
- Scoping Review with 173 studies.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2024 journal from Building and Environment.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or retrofitting residential spaces for older adults, conduct user research that explores their perceptions and needs across thermal, visual, acoustic, air quality, and ergonomic aspects. Use this data to create integrated design solutions that prioritize their autonomy and well-being, acknowledging local context.
- What are the limitations?
- The review identified contradictions in design recommendations across multiple domains, requiring careful evaluation and application by designers and engineers.