Ige, V O and Akinbogun, S P (2025) Consideration of senior citizens in private residential design in Sub-Saharan Africa: Reflections from akure, Nigeria. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 43(2), pp. 197-208. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose: The design of buildings is crucial to functionality and safety for senior citizens. People often refrain from talking about old age and its related support; however, it is inevitable. The paper aims to highlight the essentials of a home design that considers the aged citizens in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research technique is used in the study. A closed-ended questionnaire and an interview were used to gather information on the requirements for aging-in-place basics in home design from middle-aged and elderly households. Findings: Findings from the study revealed that a majority of the respondents considered old age as a phase of life to prioritize in home design. Lighting, furniture and fixtures and electrical installations are variously perceived by the respondents as aging-in-place essentials. Practical implications: The study has far-reaching consequences for the built environment, particularly for homeowners. It is related to the third sustainable development goal (SDG), which seeks to secure the health and well-being of people of all ages. Originality/value: The study's uniqueness and usefulness are highlighted in the gaps between present house design culture and the reality of senior citizen occupants' dwellings, as well as the appropriateness to satisfy changing demands associated with old age. It would encourage homes to develop the culture and duty of providing a sustainable home that is accessible to everybody and provides emotional and physical safety for the elderly.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | age-in-place; home design; old age; senior citizen; sustainability |
| Index terms: | built environment, sustainable development goal, household, reflection, house design, elderly, Nigeria, electrical installation, questionnaire, methodology, qualitative research, duty, design of building, interview, homeowner, Sub-Saharan Africa, health and wellbeing, functionality |
| Subjects: | infrastructure and transport systems, sociology, professional development, building design, data collection methods, mechanical systems, mental health and wellbeing, research design and methodology, demography, Geography, sustainable design, design process, physical geography and landforms, research methods, design features, contractual role |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Contract Administration, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here