Multi-domain comfort and environmental control in senior living: Lessons from older adult perspectives

• Comfort for older adults depends on thermal, visual, acoustic, and air factors. • Poor lighting, controls, and access limit seniors’ comfort self-management. • Heat events expose weak HVAC and emergency systems in senior housing. • Older adults still rely on low-tech comfort like layers and window airflow. • Design must support aging with accessible, easy-to-use environmental controls. As the global population ages, understanding how indoor environmental quality (IEQ) impacts older adults becomes increasingly critical. Traditional comfort models often treat thermal, visual, acoustic, and air quality domains in isolation, yet aging affects how these domains are perceived and managed. This qualitative study draws on 65 semi-structured interviews with residents of nine senior living communities in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Data were analyzed using affinity diagramming and NVivo software to identify key patterns across multiple comfort domains. Participants described frequent difficulty managing indoor conditions due to physical decline, inaccessible building controls, and limited environmental agency. Common challenges included hard-to-read thermostats, inadequate task lighting, and restricted access to operable windows. Residents employed a range of adaptive strategies—layering clothing, modifying routines, seeking daylight or shade—though these were often constrained by mobility limitations or building policies. Access to nature and visual connection to the outdoors were strongly tied to emotional well-being. Older adults’ comfort depends on integrated support across multiple IEQ domains. Findings suggest design improvements such as high-contrast, intuitive thermostat interfaces, age-appropriate lighting strategies (e.g., under-cabinet and hallway lighting), and more flexible window and shading controls. As climate events intensify, age-inclusive design must prioritize environmental adaptability and intuitive control systems to protect comfort, health, and autonomy.