6.2.2 INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING/LIVING

THE UNITS:

Three units types were developed to accommodate a diverse range of tenants. Unit 1 is the fully assisted living unit, and is designed as a living space without a kitchenette. The residents of these units will make use of the facility’s amenities and services.

Unit 2, is the semi-assisted living unit, and is designed as a small independent apartment for the elderly residents. The residents of these units are not excluded from the rest of the facility’s services and amenities but can live independently to a degree that they are comfortable.

Unit 3, is the independent living unit, and is designed as a bigger 2 bedroom apartment for the elderly residents who are still taking care of children. They will not be excluded from the facility, but can independently live in the community and make use of its services and amenities.

The units were designed to incorporate better accessibility. An active decision was made to add a shower with a bench rather than a bathtub to the units to help ease the elderly’s fear of falling (especially individuals with endurance, balance, and strength issues) and aid the caretakers. Grab rails were added to the toilet and the shower to aid in reducing the risk of falling when a person in a wheelchair independently use the bathroom space. The units were designed according to a wheelchair’s turning circle (1500mm), allowing a person in a wheelchair to easily access any space within the unit and allowing a caretaker to move with and around the wheelchair in case of required assistance.