Aging in place communities: An affordable alternative to potentialize longevity

Abstract

Purpose Only 1 to 4% of elderly people have financial conditions and feel willing to move from their usual residence to a place prepared to meet the possible physical, cognitive, and social declines that may arise with aging1. The average age of entry into assisted living is 83 years, demonstrating the resistance to change and adds more fragility to the process, since the average stay is only 1.7 years. Among the main resistance factors are the feeling of independence and fears of mistreatment, of not receiving adequate food or of being forgotten by family and friends2. What elements could the real estate market implement in buildings to make them more age-friendly and adaptable to elderly people remain in their places with affordable care costs? Method Behavioral research questionnaire analyzes3 combined with qualitative interview applied to the prospects of housing on longevity and case studies of business on 4 continents, indicate a greater sympathy for buildings that focus on housing elements (rather than treatment), on flexibility of the internal areas of the housing units between 50 and 100 m2, in the support and entertainment spaces (beauty center, fitness, gardening, for example). The answers allow that the resistance to move is lower when the home aspects are preserved. With prompt care offered by a Home Care company located in the building or condo4, the costs of this basic service are shared among the residents and, in the case of increasing assistance according to the evolution of the dependence on activities of daily living, they are contracted on demand modality, such as the would be outside the community. The advantage is the apportionment of costs within the community, while in the habitual residence it would be borne individually with higher market values. If the degree of dependence evolves, both housing and home care can adapt to the needs, since the architecture and business model are compatible and prepared for this incremental evolution. It is different from a cohousing since the dwelling remains individualized. Robots can create automation scenarios by subliminally implementing telemetry elements to monitor the health of residents, increasing their autonomy. Results and Discussion There are no metrics capable of indicating which elements must be implemented, their degree of importance, costs and priority. It is only known that there is a positive influence on the elderly's behavior when applied together, but not which combinations are more efficient. The Aging in Place movement gains strength as it seems more economically accessible and humanized by not kidnapping individuals from their original places, preserving their affective and cultural memories within the social context where they are inserted. This appeal can generate a rupture in the model of buildings and institutional businesses of assistance and demand from professionals to be more sensitive to offer solutions to the speed of demographic pressure that societies are subject to in the coming years.