A House for an Elderly Person: About Safety and More

Abstract

The article provides an overview of studies devoted to the search for options for the optimal place of residence and its equipment for elderly and senile people. Currently, most of the older generation prefer to stay in their own house or apartment. It is shown that a home should provide not only security and stability, but also the potential for the development and realization of one’s own individuality. The emphasis on safety and the prevention of household injuries does not fully reflect the real needs of older people. Some of the most significant characteristics of a home include the condition of the home, energy efficiency, temperature control, safety, proximity to nature, good lighting and privacy. Somewhat less frequently mentioned is the need to adapt premises to age-related changes - the safety of the bathroom, the expansion of corridors and doorways, the installation of handrails, the use of non-slip flat surfaces, sound insulation and natural ventilation of the room. Russian respondents point to the importance of the convenience and beauty of a home, its safety, historicity, reflection of individuality and connection with nature. At the same time, they draw attention to the fact that often younger family members take on not only financing, but also the choice of elements of the environment of an elderly relative, taking into account the potential deterioration of his physical and psychological functioning in the future, and do not take into account his desire for autonomy and the realization of his own desires. The negative consequences of such a scenario include a decrease in the vital activity of an elderly person, loss of independence, refusal to take responsibility for one’s life, and an increased tendency towards helplessness. The need for a transition from the paradigm of compensation and protection to the paradigm of salutogenesis and development of a person of late age is pointed out.