Empowering Spaces: Design for the Aging Population
2 HSW CE Credits - AIA # DAS491 - IDCEC # 119508 - FL BOAID # 9879155 - LSBID # 11.893.24
The surge in the aging population is significantly impacting various sectors like healthcare, housing, transportation, and technology. Design holds immense potential in fostering an inclusive world for seniors. Crafting products, services, and settings attuned to their needs promotes independent living and dignified aging. Guiding principles for designing amid this aging trend include universal design—creating spaces for all ages and abilities, age-friendly design—tailoring spaces to elderly requirements, inclusive design—welcoming diversity, and health-conscious design—supporting senior well-being. Beyond accessibility, designing for seniors aims to empower and engage by reflecting their physiology and experiences, fostering a sense of value and community connection. Converting the challenges of the graying population into opportunities, elder-centric design can construct a universally accessible and comprehensive world.
Barbara Huelet
Barbara J. Huelat, FASID, AAHID, EDAC, is nationally recognized for work in patient-centered design. Her three decades as a design practitioner cover virtually all types, components and sizes of domestic and international healthcare, government, and VA facilities. Currently, she is Design Principal of the interiors firm Healing Design in Alexandria, VA.
She is a past president of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers. Barbara has been honored with numerous design awards for projects of excellence, as well as personal recognition for ASID, Designer of Distinction, Humanities Design Award, Luminary Award and Fellow. Huelat has authored three books: Taming the Chaos of Dementia: A Caregiver’s Guide to Interventions that Make a Difference, Healing Environments: Design for the Body Mind & Spirit and Healing Environments, What’s the Proof? Barbara lectures frequently on a spectrum of healthcare design topics. She resides in Alexandria, VA.
Her design thinking, books, blogs, and writing are sought after by popular press, academic journals, students, and the consumer. Many have been translated into Chinese and disturbed throughout Asia.
