Aging is the process of learning to live with reliance, whether it be physical, social, or spatial.

It is becoming more and more clear that aging is intimately tied to heredity, way of life,
geography, and socioeconomic status. In several fields, including architecture, the issue of the
aging population has taken center stage. In 2050, 32.5% of the population would be 65 or
older, according to UN predictions.

The obvious expectation when considering the implications of these numbers in the context
of design is to consider medical care, hospital design, and accessible cities. This, however,
ignores a growing and significant issue: social isolation and loneliness.

In the older population, chronic loneliness is exceedingly common, and numerous studies
have been done to examine the measurable health effects it has, such as raising the chance of
disability, heart disease, strokes, and dementia.

Spaces that increase the likelihood of active aging with quality of life, independence, and
sociability—environments that integrate them among themselves and with society, free from
segregation and stigmatization—can be used to define the role of architecture in making this
approachable to the general public.
In light of this situation, it is possible to distinguish between two avenues of architectural
activity: the renovation of already-existing structures and the creation of brand-new projects
with particular characteristics.

Background and justification of the study

Humans age, and both their physical and mental features change noticeably. These alterations
vary in intensity and are caused by a number of different things. The effects of these changes
force older people to modify their habits and, occasionally, the place where they live. These
abrupt or gradual changes to their way of life can occasionally be unsettling and make the
elderly person feel dismayed.

Both social care and the environment in which the elderly live are crucial aspects of their
lives. Having the power to alter our surroundings gives us the chance to design spaces that
have significance for the people who live in them.

Justification of the study

The needs of the older community can occasionally be different from those of younger age
groups.
Some older people need assistance from caregivers, but it depends on how much their
physical and mental capabilities have been compromised. It is important to remember that
providing care for the elderly include more than just providing care from family members and
medical experts. It also involves providing for their need to keep their independence and lead
active lives in their communities and physical surroundings.

Studies and facilities that support care and support for the elderly are more in demand as a
result of the population's ever-increasing rate of ageing and the increased need of the elderly
on care.

The difficulties highlighted support the need for research in the area of study and elderly-
related architectural interventions to satisfy their requirements and successfully revitalize the
idea of caring for the old in the built environment.
 Approaches to the study.

• Unpacking the Aspects Of Ageing: A look into both the physical and social aspects
that encompass aging and the detrimental effects to the elderly.

• Contextualising Care For The Elderly: A deep look into the housing needs , financial
needs, health care needs and societal needs for the elderly and how they affect their
daily lives.

• Identifying The Architectural Requirements Of An Environment That Fosters Care

For The Elderly i.e contact with nature, interior considerations and legibility and
wayfinding.

• A look into different case studies: a review of different elderly homes or retirement
homes across the world and how they’ve tried to create a better living environment for
the elderly.

• Occam's razor: the simplest solution to a problem is preferable to one that is more
complex. Simple solutions are easier to execute.

The Design proposal

Architectural design of a retirement home in Nairobi, Kenya

The proposed design aims to develop a warm environment for a multi-cultural living
community with complete care for the elderly, allowing them to move about the community
in accordance with their care requirements while continuing to be active in their regular urban
lives.

The suggested design elements as well as the design spaces and their organization in the new
design will be based on earlier research and literature.

This proposal aims to create a modernistic but culturally vibrant atmosphere for the
architecture of a retirement home.