ECHO: Livable Communities for Aging in Place

Abstract

Currently within the United States we are witnessing the largest aging population demographic of any time in our history. This is the “baby-boomer” generation; the Post-World War II babies which were born between 1946 and 1964. Babies no longer, these aging adults number 78 million strong and will change our Country’s very fabric. From culture & politics, to economic patterns of wealth distribution, there is, and will be, hardly a single facet of modern life which is not directly or indirectly affected by this large demographic. The government, as well as many industries and institutions, recognize the significance of this fact, but architects seem slow to respond to the needs of this demographic, or to recognize the vast amount of capital and opportunities which present themselves. We needn’t look far to establish the needs and wants of this demographic and how it applies to architecture, because many studies are available from such sources such as the AARP, Generations United, The National Aging in Place Council, The National Council on Aging, and the Federal Government, to name but a very few. By focusing upon the “five final recommendations and findings,” of the AARP report on aging in place (2005), as well as the continuum of care services typically applied in stand-alone “retirement” communities, we can focus on how to insert these findings into an existing suburban context. Actual architectural solutions are scarce, but certain archetypes and community designs are shown to be consistently desired by this demographic. Overwhelmingly, this is a population which desires to stay within their current homes and apartments, located within their chosen community and close to the community amenities they are accustomed to. This is a population which desires to live and age in place.