Intergenerational social housing for older adults: Findings from a Central European city

Creating modern social housing should address not only architectonic requirements but also social challenges associated with ageing society. In that regard it is especially important to avoid creating closed homogeneous communities, stressing this aspect in countries which are at the beginning of a way of introducing such solutions. Therefore, the aim of this research is to assess whether the pioneer intergenerational social housing building and its neighbourhood in Central European conditions properly answer the needs of older adults, improving their quality of life. The research was based on a survey conducted with two groups of residents: older adults (aged 65 and over) and other residents. Main findings show that moving to the analysed building reduced their architectural barriers which were problematic in previous living places. They assess the building itself more positively than its surroundings, and most of them have good social networks in this place. They are more interested in intergenerational housing projects rather than buildings designed only for older people. At the same time, younger residents benefit from some solutions designed for older people. Although most of them were neutral about having older people as neighbours while deciding about moving in, 20% of them highlight benefits of having them as neighbours at the moment. Satisfaction about living in the building is rather high in both groups and 87 % of older people and 80% of rest of residents would make the same decision about moving into this place. This study draws suggestions on future design of intergenerational housing and highlights the space for improvement based on the implemented case.