An Inclusive Community: Architecture for Age Integration

<p>Our elderly population is increasing and people are living longer. Healthcare advancements mean that illnesses are more controlled and people do not die as young. Due to our age-segregated society, the issue of elderly social isolation is at an all time high. Retirement villages are, for the most part, gated communities, isolated away from the rest of the younger population and wider community. The generation gap between young and older continues to broaden and issues such as elderly neglect, loneliness, financial abuse and other mental-health related problems are becoming more common. This research finds that many suburban community facilities often neglect the needs of this growing senior demographic. The site at 245 Karori Road, Karori, is used to test and challenge the norms of current suburban community architecture typologies for social inclusiveness. The site is tested in three iterative stages led by an interdisciplinary literature review to address this overarching problem of age-segregation in suburban communities. A major focus in this research is to target the suburb’s youngest and oldest members to shift negative ageist attitudes through providing spaces for intergenerational interaction. This research portfolio is a critique of current community architecture typologies such as the community centre and public space, to investigate ways these typologies could be redefined and altered to play a key role in countering the negative effects of age-segregation.</p>

An Inclusive Community: Architecture for Age Integration

<p>Our elderly population is increasing and people are living longer. Healthcare advancements mean that illnesses are more controlled and people do not die as young. Due to our age-segregated society, the issue of elderly social isolation is at an all time high. Retirement villages are, for the most part, gated communities, isolated away from the rest of the younger population and wider community. The generation gap between young and older continues to broaden and issues such as elderly neglect, loneliness, financial abuse and other mental-health related problems are becoming more common. This research finds that many suburban community facilities often neglect the needs of this growing senior demographic. The site at 245 Karori Road, Karori, is used to test and challenge the norms of current suburban community architecture typologies for social inclusiveness. The site is tested in three iterative stages led by an interdisciplinary literature review to address this overarching problem of age-segregation in suburban communities. A major focus in this research is to target the suburb’s youngest and oldest members to shift negative ageist attitudes through providing spaces for intergenerational interaction. This research portfolio is a critique of current community architecture typologies such as the community centre and public space, to investigate ways these typologies could be redefined and altered to play a key role in countering the negative effects of age-segregation.</p>

Relationship Between Tooth Loss and Sarcopenia in Chinese Suburban Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Both sarcopenia and loss of teeth are associated with aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential relationships between tooth loss and sarcopenia and components of sarcopenia, including declining muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, in Chinese suburban community-dwelling older adults.Methods: The subjects were 1494 people over 60 years of age (average age: 71.64 ± 5.97 years；men, n=609) from Chongming District of Shanghai and Hangu District of Tianjin. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria were used to define sarcopenia. The three basic diagnostic components of sarcopenia (muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance) were assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer, a grip strength test, and a four-meter walk test, respectively. The subjects were divided into groups depending on self-reported loss of teeth. Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, we found no correlation between tooth loss and sarcopenia or muscle mass. However, the walking speed of female participants with at least 10 teeth lost was 0.059 m/s slower than that of participants with fewer than 10 teeth lost (P＜0.001), and grip strength was 1.577 kg lower among male participants with at least 10 teeth lost than among males with fewer than 10 teeth lost (P =0.023).Conclusion: Our results suggest that tooth loss is negatively correlated with muscle strength in males and average walking speed in females. These results are consistent with the importance of good oral hygiene in preventing declines of physical performance in older adults.

The Spatial Morphology of Community in Chipping Barnet c.1800–2015: An Historical Dialogue of Tangible and Intangible Heritages

This article presents a case study of the London suburb of Chipping Barnet to show how a spatial-morphological approach to tangible heritage challenges its archetypal image as an affluent commuter suburb by highlighting its resilience as a generative patterning of social space that has weathered successive phases of social change. We argue that the enduring spatial-morphological definition of Barnet as a local centre explains how it has been possible to preserve something less tangible—namely its identity as a suburban community. We show how Barnet’s street network constitutes community heritage through a combination of local- and wider-scale affiliations that have sustained diverse localised socio-economic activity over an extended period of time. Noting how local histories often go further than sociological studies in emphasising the importance of the built environment for indexing the effects of social change on everyday life, we draw on a range of archive sources including the analysis of historical maps using space syntax techniques, to reveal Barnet’s street network as a dialogue of both tangible and intangible heritages that are formative of a suburban community.

Relationship Between Tooth Loss and Sarcopenia in Chinese Suburban Community-dwelling Older Adults

Background: Both sarcopenia and loss of teeth are associated with aging. The purpose of this study was to investigate potential relationships between tooth loss and sarcopenia and components of sarcopenia, including declining muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, in Chinese suburban community-dwelling older adults.Methods: The subjects were 1494 people over 60 years of age (average age: 71.64 ± 5.97 years；men, n=609) from Chongming District of Shanghai and Hangu District of Tianjin. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria were used to define sarcopenia. The three basic diagnostic components of sarcopenia (muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance) were assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer, a grip strength test, and a four-meter walk test, respectively. The subjects were divided into groups depending on self-reported loss of teeth. Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, we found no correlation between tooth loss and sarcopenia or muscle mass. However, the walking speed of female participants with at least 10 teeth lost was 0.059 m/s slower than that of participants with fewer than 10 teeth lost (P＜0.001), and grip strength was 1.577 kg lower among male participants with at least 10 teeth lost than among males with fewer than 10 teeth lost (P =0.023).Conclusion: Our results suggest that tooth loss is negatively correlated with muscle strength in males and average walking speed in females. These results are consistent with the importance of good oral hygiene in preventing declines of physical performance in older adults.

Perception of obesity and overweight among adults living in suburban Nepal: a qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore the perception of obesity and overweight among Nepalese adults living in a suburban community.DesignA qualitative study composed of focus group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI).SettingCommunity and healthcare facilities in Dhulikhel, Nepal.ParticipantsFour FGDs were conducted with community members (n=22) and four IDIs were conducted with healthcare providers (HCPs).ResultsObesity is a rising problem in this suburban community. Participants had inadequate knowledge regarding the consequences of obesity, and they perceived overweight as normal, healthy and attractive. The participants above 40 years of age did not perceive themselves to be overweight or obese. Despite participants’ awareness of the importance of diet control and exercise to prevent obesity, these were not translated into practice.ConclusionsThis study provided insight into perceptions of obesity in a suburban Dhulikhel community through both community members’ and HCPs’ perspective. Misconceptions and inadequate knowledge of obesity among people in this community indicate the need for health education and intervention programme to increase health awareness and preventive practices.