Abstracts Sociology

Home and independence: the landscape design of grouped housing for the elderly

by Shona McCahon

The home and immediate locality increasingly become the focus of every-day living in later life. As such, the home environment has a strong effect upon the functional, social and psychological well-being of elderly people. Most importantly, having one's own home is highly valued because it means independence and status at a time of life when these conditions are often threatened by the physiological and social changes of old age. Some elderly, who find that the conventional detached house and section does not suit their changed situation, find that grouped housing designed specifically for the elderly can fulfil their needs. This study explores the contribution that landscape design can make towards meeting those needs.