Home Design in an Aging World

Book excerpt: Home Design in an Aging World examines changing norms and social strains in an aging world and looks at their implications for home design. Jeffrey P. Rosenfeld and Wid Chapman discuss senior home design in seven rapidly aging nations: Brazil, China, India, Israel, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. All seven of these nations are faced with the challenge of providing housing for populations that are living longer than ever before. The cross-nation discussion follows the growing trend toward a more global understanding of social issues, covering the differences among nations in terms of the effects of policy on the types of housing available, the design elements, and what people can afford. This book sensitizes the students, professionals, and the lay reader to the unique set of challenges of designing for the aging.