Assessment of Living Space for Older People in BrazilSandra Perito, Instituto Brasil Acessivel / FAUUSP PhD student, Architect, Instituto Brasil Acessivel / Marcondes Perito Engenharia e Arquitetura, Brazil Oya Demirbilek, Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia Joanne Quinn, PhD Candidate, University of New South Wales, Australia The greatest challenge in the environment/older person relationship is the prevention of domestic accidents, which can cause traumas, limiting the independence of the user. An environment that is inappropriate to the decreased functional abilities of older people can induce behavioral dependence. But the perception of barriers in the domestic environment undergo strong influence of economic and psychological factors. Older persons perceive the limitations of use and the difficulties of access as a natural consequence of advanced age, and this hinders the acceptance of corrective interventions. To preserve the quality of the domestic environment, as difficulties begin, it is necessary to carry out adaptations, but physical interventions always cost money. In the developing countries, such as Brazil, where retirement income is low, frequently there is not enough money even for the minimum maintenance of the house. Research conducted by the author showed that the Brazilian elders desire to age in place and show overt but misplaced satisfaction, in relation to their homes. When there is no economic prospect of solving the problem, the none perception of barriers renders the situation more acceptable. The risk associated with any barrier can be undervalued and it should be expected that aging and the decrease of abilities will mean changes on the risk suffered by people. But, from a psychological perspective, many of these changes are not perceived as a serious risk. In order to avoid incurring expenses, usually older people adapt themselves to the barriers in their houses, changing their behavior; they minimize the difficulties reducing their activities, but compromising their autonomy. The proposed setting is a senior institution of extended stay for independent living, where older people live in private spaces, to evaluate the physical environment, perceive barriers, assess the problems and propose actions that can ensure a complete and safe use. As the relationship of the older persons with their homes is influenced by psychological factors, leading them to use an inadequate environment to the detriment of their own physical health, a multidisciplinary team of Architects, Occupational Therapists and Health Professionals may discuss strategies and find proper solutions in order that the living space be adapted to the physical and psychological needs of the older user. This Charrette intends to call the attention of professionals to the problem and instigate the discussion to establish a line of multidisciplinary actions that can contribute to warn users of the need of corrective interventions and to improve the domestic environment. The group can promote proposals that may help to accommodate the changes and preserve the elder autonomy, as well as to allow the professionals to visualize feasible and possible solutions to home modifications. Sandra Perito - Charrette Coordinator
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