Design Guidelines to Reduce Extrinsic Fall Risks in the Built Environment

Abstract

As people age, environments supporting changing needs can potentially impact their quality of life. Aging often leads to a decrease in the ability of people to interpret sensory cues within their environment. Using Pastalan’s Empathic Model as a framework, a list of guidelines was established to address the extrinsic risk factors affecting falls within the built environment. Attention to these items may not prevent all falls but will mitigate some of the external risks that cause falls for older adults. It is the goal of the authors that these guidelines can be utilized as a design tool by families and design professionals for assessing sensory cues that can enhance aging adults’ ability to maneuver within the built environment. Enhanced knowledge in this area can serve to increase the safety, comfort, and ability of residents to maneuver the environment on their own.