Environmental design interventions in practice to enhance the well-being of older adults

The urban environment is the primary setting for many older adults to grow old. The importance of creating age-friendly cities and communities that cater to older adults’ needs is being recognized in the domains of health, aging, and public policy. The living environment of old adults is complex as it contains many different factors. The individual's abilities and the demands of environmental factors change during the aging process. A responsive built environment may reduce the impact of these conditions and positively influence aging, so that older adults remain independent as they age. The public spaces of a community are a key factor in the personal and social well-being of older adults living in urban environments. This paper proposes to introduce environmental design into the study of a healthy aging environment, testing whether and to what extent different environmental features influence aging. Environmental design encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including, but not limited to, architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning. In general, environmental design centres around the reconciliation of "people - buildings - environment". Environmental design strategically connects people to community spaces through participatory design methods. It promotes change through civic empowerment, encourages creativity and new possibilities, and enhances the diversity of the community environment. At the same time, it encourages community participation from the bottom up, enhances community cohesion and sustainable development through resident-centred design interventions, activates neglected spaces, explores how to integrate space and needs for social function design, and promotes the improvement of public spaces by focusing on the living conditions and needs of the "people" in the community. Improve the physical environment of the community with accessible design, safety and other infrastructures, encourage residents to interact socially to develop a sense of community and belonging. Environmental factors have a significant impact on the quality of life of older adults. The aging population's heterogeneity may result in a different aging experience among individuals living in different environments. Through a participatory design intervention approach, it analyzes the contradictions that exist in the community environment and seeks potential ways of co-existence. Promoting social interaction and community participation among older people enhances elders' sense of belonging to the environment and social cohesion, thereby improving their mental health and social relationships.