As the average age of life expectancy continues to rise, so too has the number of elderly individuals seeking long-term care. Performing daily tasks becomes a struggle while those affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia risk their safety by living alone. Aged individuals lacking the means or faculties to live independently often seek assisted living and memory care facilities as the most viable options for the growing elderly population. Typical facilities are compact and sterile where residents are under watchful supervision to perform basic daily activities. As a result, aged individuals spend every day inside the facility with a structured, monotonous routine. A repetitive lifestyle within the same surroundings and with little autonomy can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and disengagement from the same facility designed to care for the elderly population.
My thesis aims to create an assisted living and memory care village, rather than a facility, that calls upon the comforts of home in a neighborhood setting. Within the village, residents are free to engage, explore, and take part in activities as self-sufficient human beings. Located in Frederick, Maryland, my objective is to design a small-town community that enables both on and off-site engagement. I analyzed architectural design methods that mitigate the struggles of daily activities while maintaining privacy and independence, and also researched a largely overlooked aspect of assisted living facilities: site development. This enabled me to curate a space where residents are free to explore and take part in various activities throughout the site.
A monotonous routine leads to a stagnant mind. My thesis aims to create a space where exploration and independence are not only permitted but encouraged. Rather than aging in place, the goal is to live in place while the mind and body are in motion, making new memories and discoveries every day. / Master of Architecture / My aunt faced the challenge of her elderly mother experiencing white coat hypertension: an increase in blood pressure due to anxiety and stress during doctor visits. But it made a remarkable difference after she switched to a specialized geriatric office that emphasized a welcoming, homelike design. The warm ambiance, comforting decor, and personalized care reduced her anxiety, alleviating her white coat hypertension and resulting in regular blood pressure readings. This experience inspired me to emphasize the importance of geriatric-friendly design in assisted living and memory care facilities.
In response to this issue, my thesis proposes the creation of an assisted living and memory care village instead of a traditional facility. The village aims to provide a homelike setting where residents can experience a sense of comfort and freedom.
I have analyzed architectural design methods that address the struggles of daily activities while maintaining privacy and independence. Additionally, I have explored the often overlooked aspect of site development in assisted living facilities to curate the space thoughtfully where residents are encouraged to explore and engage in various activities throughout the village and evoke feelings of home, community, and comfort.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115823 |
| Date | 21 July 2023 |
| Creators | Cullen, Kathleen McNamara |
| Contributors | Architecture, Piedmont-Palladino, Susan C., Kelsch, Paul J., Emmons, Paul F. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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