Housing the Elderly Options and Design

This book is a review of the latest data on the current and future demand for sheltered housing plus an examination of the different categories of housing and ways of achieving a balance between the demands of scale, privacy and level of service. A major theme is the special design needs of the frail elderly, who may be experiencing difficulty in maintaining an independent lifestyle but do not necessarily require residential care in institutions. Detailed advice is given on suitable locations for sheltered housing schemes and on planning their immediate environment. This is followed by illustrated design guidance on the critical relationship between the elements to be provided, space standards and dimensions, under the headings of dwellings and space standards, frail elderly schemes, wardens dwellings, common areas and facilities, landscaping, means of escape and fire precautions, services, and communications. The book concludes with case studies of six completed schemes providing different categories of accommodation, designed by Francis Weal and Partners and Phippen Randall and Parkes in the UK, and by Herman Hertzberger in the Netherlands. Francis Weals scheme at Faversham, Kent, for the Anchor Housing Association received an award from the Institute of Housing for the best Sheltered Housing Scheme in London and the South East Region in 1977.