Redefining Senior Housing: Architecture as a Catalyst for Health, Autonomy, and Community in Toronto

Abstract

The urban environment is not seen as an ideal place to retire as housing is becoming increasingly less attainable in terms of affordability and availability. With an impending demographic shift of seniors estimated to rise in the coming years, a viable housing solution is more pressing. As of 2018, adults over 65 made up 17.4% of the Canadian population, but by projected estimates, this could rise to between 21.4% and 29.5% in 2068. As of 2016, over 60% of adults 65 and over in Toronto had one or more health complications, with numbers projected to rise in the following years. This creates great strain on hospital resources as the population ages and grows. Among seniors, the main priority is finding housing that enables them to age-in-community as the thought of long-term care (LTC) and retirement homes (RHs) are not desirable as they often signal the loss of self-autonomy and often require being displaced from their community. COVID-19 uncovered flaws in the senior housing system through high infection rates, aided by architecture not designed to cope with such circumstances. Following COVID-19, more studies began to draw on previous theories focusing on the psychological effects of architecture on its occupants and, more importantly, how it affects one’s health. Significant evidence points to exposure to nature as psychologically improving one’s mental and physical state. Notably, Roger S. Ulrich’s research in the design of healthcare facilities revealed that patients are discharged faster when exposed to nature within a hospital setting, requiring fewer antibiotics and pain relievers than those without a means of interacting with nature. By designing spaces prioritizing health, we can create places of refuge that promote health and well-being outside of a hospital setting. Many of these homes use "beds" as a metric to quantify resources, but this language may indirectly undermine the role that architecture plays as a part in elder care. How can architecture be a driving force in promoting health and fostering independence while supporting the maintenance of physical and cognitive function for seniors in urban Toronto?