Singapore University of Social Sciences

Environment and Ageing

Environment and Ageing (GER526)

Synopsis

GER526 Environment and Ageing is in response to the needs of creating an age-friendly community and care environments for older people. The built environment plays an important role in determining the ageing experience. This can be a factor to influence the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of older person. This course offers insights on different planning and design principles for the older person who may have physical functioning and/or cognitive decline, especially in senior housing, aged care facilities and community care setting. An overview of person-environment interaction in aged care, accessible housing, barrier-free design will also be discussed. This course has a practical focus (e.g. field visit, environment assessment), and students will be encouraged to propose solutions to address the environmental design issues in the eldercare sector.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JAN

Topics

  • Theories and concepts in ageing and the built environment
  • Housing for older adults: Meaning of home
  • Age-friendly and dementia friendly communities: Planning and design principles
  • The role of age-friendly environments on quality of life
  • Innovative models on community-based housing options: co-housing, NORC
  • Universal design and visitability
  • Design for senior housing, care facilitates options and community planning
  • Design solutions in long-term care and persons with dementia
  • Innovative models in long-term care: GreenHouse, Village Model
  • Environmental assessment methods for care facilities
  • Impacts of community planning and older persons
  • Case Studies on ageing and environment

Learning Outcome

  • Analyse the situation of age-friendly community in Singapore
  • Examine the physical, social and cognitive characteristics of the ageing population in relation to the built environment
  • Discuss the importance and solutions of universal design for older person
  • Appraise the current senior housing and care facilities options
  • Use of multi-methods in conducting environmental assessment for senior’s needs, functioning and quality of life
  • Evaluate the impacts of community care setting for older person
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