Abstract
This article tells about some of the characteristics of
Finnish and Italian senior living solutions. Countries
situate opposite side of the Europe, where already the
weather conditions vary a lot, not even mentioning the
differences in cultures. Still these two countries have
common problems, which have very complicated nature. Both
countries have for example big ratio of over 65 years old
inhabitants and at the same time a lack of housing
solutions between active working age and old age.
Almost secretly people nowadays are experiencing
so-called third age. The quality of life has changed
during last century so that people lives longer, they are
healthier and wealthier, and they have more free time. At
the same time the social structures, for example
families, are shaping differently than before. What we
have standing steadily is our building stock. The
majority of seniors in both countries live in regular
apartments, where they are used to live years. These
apartments do not offer them anymore a safe and
comfortable place to live, because the apartments were
originally designed for healthy working populations.
This article emphasises some of the features of these two
countries where future development is needed. Besides the
physical environment, the mental and social environments
need to take into notice when designing a better future
living environments. The observations have been made
during the autumn 2004 when the author has been as a
visiting researcher in Instituto per le Technologie della
Construzione in Rome. The ideas have come up in many
conversations with Italian and Finnish colleagues and
mixed happily in this article.
Original language | Italian |
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Pages (from-to) | 35-39 |
Journal | Abitare e Anziani Informa |
Issue number | 5/6 |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
MoE publication type | D1 Article in a trade journal |