Introduction to Research and Practice of Aging Environments
This online course is for graduate students. It introduces research and practice of aging environments, focussing on the relationships between physical environments and health outcomes for older adults (residents and workers) in both institutional and community settings. International studies will be reviewed, and the applicability of evidence to urban aging concerns will be discussed.
Sessions will introduce dominant topics including age-friendly environments, access to nature, environmental factors that support meaningful activities, walkability, diverse abilities, intergenerational connections, and relevant theories. Institutional and aging-in-place residential models will also be introduced, and we will discuss the philosophies that underlie these models such as Dementia Village, Green Care Farm, Butterfly, Eden Alternative, Green House, Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, Village, Cohousing, and University-Based Retirement Community.
The course incorporates formal lectures, multi-disciplinary expert presentations (in research and practice), discussions/workshops among course participants, and student presentations.