Social connections in extra care living: Bridging the gap between academic research, theory and practice to create successful extra care homes
This research paper by Julia Radka, a post-graduate student in architecture at the University of Nottingham, focuses on how the social aspect of care contributes to the design of extra care housing schemes.
The main aim of this study is to find out what it is that attracts the elderly population to dwell in extra care homes, and how this contributes to their well-being.
Using a mix of desktop research and interviews with extra care housing residents, captured in case study form, it explored: how do spatial relationships in the built environment help to create communities in extra care homes? And how is well-being affected by social interactions?