Mary is 77 years old and lives on her own. She has just returned home from hospital after breaking her ankle. She slipped and fell a few days ago while she was out shopping. Mary lives in a two-storey house, but has decided that she wants to use only the rooms downstairs in future. She finds climbing the stairs too difficult.
She has four rooms on the ground floor: a kitchen, sitting room, utility room, and living room.
Think and design
Redesign the four rooms so that Mary feels happy, safe, and comfortable in them. She will need a toilet and shower downstairs. You can design the four rooms in any way you like, provided that you allow her to live comfortably without using the first floor of her house.
Use A3 paper for best effect. Plan for heating, lighting, cooking, eating, watching TV - all the daily activities that you think Mary might want to do. Think about plants, animals, and other features that will make the house pleasant to live in.
Work in groups of 2-4 for this activity. Before you start, think about some standard do’s and don’ts for designing a house for an older person. Ask your teacher for help.
Display your designs in the classroom, so that you can see and discuss each other’s ideas. There is no such thing as an perfectly designed house for an older person. Everyone has individual tastes and interests.