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Home as the Nexus of Care: Reimagining Cogenerational Communities for Aging in Place

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Abstract
This thesis explores the private residence as the nexus of care through the reimagining of a cogenerational residential community in Amherst, Massachusetts. Under 4% of U.S. housing is considered livable by people with moderate mobility difficulties, and only 0.15% of housing meets wheelchair accessibility standards. Yet, as of 2019, 39% of all U.S. households include at least one person aged 65 or older, person(s) with a disability, or both. Instances of disability are greatest among households with older residents, a demographic projected to grow substantially over the coming years. This is a population that wants to age in place, due in large part to the cost prohibitive and undesirable nature of institutional and boutique long-term care facilities. In fact, most long-term care is already taking place in the home. Therefore, this thesis seeks to challenge the notion of the traditional, static, single-family home, and investigates the potential for residential and communal design to respond to evolving, temporal relationships of care. Research was conducted via a mixed methodology including data analysis, historical research on aging care and attitudes, precedent analysis, and observational research through informal interviews and documentation.
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Thesis (Open Access)
Date
2024-05
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2024-11-17
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