Stating that housing design and urban planning are essential for the care, in-home activities, and self-sufficiency of isolated, elderly individuals, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin said, "By building elderly-friendly cities, we can increase the quality of life for our elderly."
Emphasizing that ergonomic arrangements are vital in an "elderly-friendly" home design, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şevgin stated, "With developing technology, smart home systems also perform very important functions for elderly individuals in this regard, making their lives easier."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin, Head of Üsküdar University's Healthy Aging Working Group and faculty member of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, discussed the issue of elderly people living alone and “elderly-friendly homes.”
One in five elderly individuals is chronically lonely
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin noted that loneliness and being alone can be defined not only physically but also mentally as a ‘perception of isolation,’ stating, “Loneliness is a common phenomenon among the elderly, affecting almost one in three people. Furthermore, one in five elderly individuals is classified as chronically lonely. The elderly population, as in the rest of the world, is also on the rise in Turkey. In our country, the elderly population, which exceeded 10 percent of the total population in the last year, is becoming increasingly isolated. Among the reasons for this change are weakening family ties, the death of a spouse, an increase in divorces, a decrease in the desire to have children, socioeconomic factors, and children's desire for individualization and free living. Strategies must be developed for the elderly who are becoming isolated due to these and similar factors.”
“Elderly-Friendly Cities” have become a necessity
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin stated that housing design and urban planning are essential for the care, in-home activities, and self-sufficiency of isolated, elderly individuals, and continued:
“We can increase the quality of life for our elderly by building elderly-friendly cities. At the same time, a life intertwined with nature, created using horizontal architecture instead of vertical urbanization, will positively affect the living standards of both us and our elderly. City planning should include features such as wide and flat pavements on roads, pavements made of non-slip materials, sensor-equipped traffic lights on roads, barriers along pavement edges, and elevators on overpasses.”
Home accidents are one of the biggest threats for the elderly
Stating that the most common accidents among elderly individuals occur at home, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin said, “We can say that falls, collisions, and accidents involving sharp or piercing objects in the kitchen are the most frequently encountered accidents. Bathrooms, toilets, and stairs are the primary areas in the home where accidents occur. The fact that falls typically happen at night and in the early morning is also a common scenario we encounter.”
Designing the home to be suitable for the elderly prevents many accidents and injuries
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin pointed out that taking precautions is the most effective way to prevent accidents, noting:
“This rule does not change for elderly individuals. Designing the home to be suitable for the elderly will prevent many accidents and injuries. Examples of these measures include; using non-slip mats for slippery floors, removing carpets unless absolutely necessary (if used, very thin carpets should be preferred), installing wall-mounted handrails in corridors, placing sensor-activated lights in corridors and bedrooms, and placing non-slip material on stair treads. If a new house is to be purchased, its features such as adequate sunlight, not being on a very high floor, and having an elevator system should also be considered.”
Ergonomic and smart home systems improve quality of life
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin stated that ergonomic arrangements are vital in an elderly-friendly home design, saying, “As ergonomic arrangements; the kitchen counter being suitable for the person's height, the toilet height also being suitable for the person, the absence of door thresholds, and lighting being in a non-glare daylight form are necessary for a safe home.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin added that smart home systems offer significant advantages for the elderly with developing technology, stating, “With developing technology, smart home systems also perform very important functions for elderly individuals in this regard, making their lives easier. Examples include odor and smoke sensors, smart camera systems, reminder alarm systems, smart robotic systems (vacuum cleaner, oven, TV), and lighting.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin said that mental health cannot be considered independently from the environment a person lives in, adding, “A bright, spacious home, light-colored walls, and portraits hung on the wall where they can recall their memories will make the elderly feel better.”
The desire for independent living is possible through good health
Emphasizing that an individual must first be healthy to realize the desire for independent living, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin concluded, “This health means not only physical but also psychological, mental health. Engaging in at least 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of physical activity per week is extremely important. Physical activity can be achieved through walking, light exercises, and activities using sports equipment in parks. Coming together with the community, meeting friends, and strolling in markets are extremely important for socialization and mental health. Solving puzzles, playing with grandchildren, and engaging in gardening also have extremely positive effects on the health of elderly individuals. Doing or trying to do all these activities promotes health, and being healthy paves the way for independent living, minimizing the need for care.”