Thesis by daniella

DESIGN THROUGH THE AGES

Daniella N. Franco

AGING /â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ajiNG/ :n Gradual change in an organism that leads to increased risk of weakness, disease, and death. It takes place in a cell, an organ, or the total organism over the entire adult life span of any living thing.

DANIELLA FRANCO

FIFTH YEAR THESIS INDUSTRIAL + INTERACTION DESIGN SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY 2013

CONTENTS Abstract

Perspective

Observations

Intro to Archetype One

Sensory Changes

Staying Fit

Intro to Archetype Two

Grandpa is my hero

History of Retirement

Depression

Culture

Intro to Archetype Three

Fulfillment

Family

Aging in Place

Successful Aging

Ageism and Technologies

Closing Thoughts

References

ABSTRACT It is certainly no secret that the global population is aging at a rate not seen in our history previously. Both the United States Census Bureau and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs report similar staggering statistics. To begin, one in five members of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population is above the age of sixty-five. Add to this the fact that, for the first

time in history the population of the United States that is over age sixty-four is greater than its population that is under twenty-five (Farage, Miller, Ajayi, & Hutchins, 2012). These statistics clearly show us the trend of the global population to be more elderly than it has been at any point in our history.

six months of researching the aging process and population. I hope to further pursue design directions that will lessen the barriers that prevent the elderly from being contributing members of society. The objective is to create bridges between generations and focus on the strengths of the elderly, not the weaknesses.

The purpose of this thesis, is to illustrate the discoveries found through

PERSPECTIVE The relationships between causes and effects in human behaviors have been theorized about since the beginning of time. The first to emphasize the close relationship of cause and effects in human behaviors was Aristotle, who believed that there is no “great gulf” between the “soul”, or mind and body. In other words what effects the body also effects the mind and vice versa. (Fitch, 4)

mutual withdrawal of the elderly from society and society from the elderly occurs to insure optimal functioning for the older individual and society.

This theory will be the basis of the research conducted to further understand the aging process, and test the theory for any faults. Theorist have previously disproven this theory, as not all older people withdraw from society, Our society is very obsessed with and it is ageist to assume that it benefits pointing out the negatives about aging. society when older people withdraw This form of behavior is further explained socially. However, people continue in Elaine Cumming and Warren Earl to believe that the elderly should be Henry’s 1961 book “Growing Old” where removed from society, and society from they first introduce the disengagement the elderly to insure optimal functioning theory. This theory states that the for the older individual and society.

Daniella Franco, England 2013

OBSERVATIONS To fully understand the aging process, I sought out different venues that would allow me to go far beyond our preconceived notions of aging. I performed interviews, interacted with strangers and close relatives, and gathered personal stories. I read countless books, and watched numerous videos relating to aging, attended seminars and classes discussing gerontology and its hope for future movements. I held group discussions for a better understanding of the average personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspectives, and discovered interesting noteworthy information. I compiled data from various sources, broke down the information one by one, and created archetypes. These archetypes are composites of various people. They allow you to empathize with the changes, barriers, and adjustments people over the age of 65 encounter as they age in a world that is not fully prepared for them.

ARCHETYPE 1 GRANDMA AMY Amy is a composite of several different people I encountered through my research. Inspired by the observation of strangers and several interviews, she represents the understanding of an older adult’s biological flaws, and the alterations they choose to make based on day to day physical feelings and emotions. Amy, or “Ema” as her grandchildren call her tells the story of her growth as well

as depletion of the aging body. She attempts to stay fit, and proves that age is a number that must not define one’s goals past the age of 65. She keeps her routine consistent, her mind a constant sponge in order to increase her knowledge on current events. She serves as a mentor for all those afraid of aging, and serves as an example that aging does not have to be something you fear, if you can face it in the correct manner.

year old female

AMY Amy, the mother of four, and the grandmother of eight, spends most of her time traveling to see all of her favorite people. She is still married to Joe, and will be celebrating their 45th anniversary this coming summer. They plan on taking a trip to Greece, which was also the location of their honeymoon. They like to travel as much as they can, even though they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do as many physical activities during their trips as they used to. They still love venturing out to new and exciting places.

During the week she keeps with her normal routine, which includes breakfast with Joe, household chores, responding to emails, and reading the morning paper. Later on in the afternoon, she takes care of bills, correspondence, and spends some time on the phone catching up with family. During the evening she usually attends music history courses at Juilliard, or attends events together with Joe, such as concerts, ballets, operas, the theater or the movies. The weekend is usually spent visiting her grandchildren.

911

The wear and tear theory This theory compares the human body to a machine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it wears out with too much use. Aging is a pre-programmed process, and a biological clock determines the length of our life, but once those cells wear out they cannot be repaired. (Weismann ,1892)

1012

years old

65 years old

years old

musculoskeletal decay

Aging is not a disease.

Primary & Secondary different types of aging: primary aging: Primary aging is the unavoidable biological process of aging experienced by all humans. It is a gradual and inevitable process of bodily deterioration that takes place throughout oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. It includes the accumulation of biochemical damage that leads to slowed movements, fading vision, impaired hearing, reduced ability to adapt to stress, decreased resistance to infections, and so forth. secondary aging: The defects in biological functions as the result of environmental influences. However, secondary aging is not experienced by everyone. It can be categorized as disease, abuse, and disuse as a result of poor health practices (e.g. no exercise, smoking, excess fat and other forms of self-damage) (Conroy, 2013).

McLeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, 1993

SENSORY CHANGES Human beings not only experience external changes, but also impairments to certain functions that allow one to conduct everyday activities. Auditory Functions After the age of 65, auditory functions reduce 25%. This reduction includes the hearing of conversational speech and speech recognition. Tactile Functions which includes touch, mobility & balance Decrease in pressure perception as well as lower coordinator skills and reduced grip strength.

Visual Functions Near focus is impaired, forcing those with age to need more illumination to see (especially read). Color perception decreases, and visual field narrows as peripheral vision weakens. Memory and Cognition Short term memory is negatively affected, as well as perspective memory (memory to do something at a future time). However, long term memory stays intact. (except those with Dementia or Alzheimer). (Conroy, 2013)

“WE DON’T STOP RUNNING BECAUSE WE GET OLD, WE GET OLD BECAUSE WE STOP RUNNING” -Christopher McDougall

IMAGE

STAYING FIT The aging process is different for every human being. Because of this, fitness experts have a difficult time designing one effective workout routine that will meet the needs of people with such a wide range of abilities. For example, while for one 70 year old, the goal may be to run a marathon. For another, it’s getting out of a chair (Internicola, 2013). Dr. James, Dean of the College of Health at the University of Utath, strongly suggests that older adults do aerobic activities to maintain body weight, strengthening exercises to maintain muscle mass, as well as flexibility training. He has also proven through studies that physical activity can reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis, as well as improve the

quality of life by maintaining functional capacity (Internicola, 2013). A great example of the ability for older adults to stay fit is Diana Nyad, a 64 year old long distance swimmer. In September of 2013, she became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark protective cage. She completed her 56 hour journey, in hopes to inspire the ever growing baby boomer generation (Haskins, 2013). Diana Nyad, a true believer that “you are never too old”, also recently completed a pledge to swim for 48 hours in a portable pool installed in New York, to raise money for the people left homeless after Hurricane Sandy (Sloane, Hanna & Ford, 2013).

“THE TRUTH IS I DON’T WAKE THINKING ABOUT AGE OR THAT I AM A WOMAN... I THINK I AM IN THE PRIME OF MY LIFE. I’M A BABY BOOMER AND I’M JUST COMING INTO MY OWN.” -Diana Nyad

the need to maintain active social roles

NOT FINAL IMAGE

Daniella Franco, England 2013

ARCHETYPE 2 GRANDPA JOE Throughout my research, I have found that people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are active, engaged in their communities, and determined to remain vital parts of the societies in which they live. This contradicts many of the earlier theories said to fully understand the aging population. In reality many people feel years younger than their actual chronological age. Even though they may notice aspects of diminished capacity, they

refuse to view themselves as old. They want to be independent, productive, and socially integrated. They make the extra effort to appreciate products, communication materials, and features of the physical environment that are contemporary in design, accessible, and easy to use. But, most of all, they are happy. Grandpa Joe, the second archetype is another composite based on literature, interviews, and current events.

Daniella Franco, New York 2010

year old male

JOE Joe has always had a passion for creativity. He started his own business at the age of 24 and worked extremely hard to generate a product that would be viable. This allowed him to live with certain luxuries. Although that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the main priority, it was a nice perk. He still goes in to the office to this day and oversees all aspects of the company. He still loves to partake in the engineering and production of new projects. He loves to create, learn, and

play and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think anything will ever stop him from getting up in the morning and heading in to work. He understands that the mind is a great thing, and should not be wasted, so he continues to fill it with knowledge. The older generation can still learn new skills, but require more time, slower pacing, and more opportunities for practice and repetition to become proficient.

These pictures illustrate the bond between a grandparent and a grandchild from birth to adulthood. Each photograph was donated towards this research book during the interview process by friends or family.

Andreas Englund, swedish artist based in Stockholm, recognized for his photo realistic series of the ‘Aging Super Hero’. The series ranges from the superhero’s first mission as a toddler to being an old man, still struggling with everyday trivialities.

Englund uses humor in his paintings as a method of defusing typical thoughts and ideas of aging. And, therefore allowing him to portray the flaws and vices of the “superhero” in a very relatable manner, which allows many people to identify themselves with a kind of human weakness. In Englund’s own words, “nevertheless everybody in their advanced age deserves to be recognized and respected for what he has achieved in life”. His paintings give the motto “A man is as old as he feels” a whole new meaning. And furthermore empowers the old to embrace their age. After all, age is just a number.

“MY

GRANDPA IS MY HERO” 29

The Ettore children and their grandfather, 1995

A CHILD’S PORTRAYAL In this youth-obsessed culture, seniors are too often depicted as dependent and past their prime, sidelined to make way for the shiny and new. Design Academy Eindhoven student Yoni Lefevre set out to challenge such prejudice through grand children’s hilarious, fantastical drawings of their grandparents.

of their grandparents,” says Lefevre (2013). “They see them as people who still can do something and are valuable in their lives.” These children see their grandparents as their heroes, nothing less, nothing more.

Drawing to the left was done by Anne DeRooy, 11, of her grandpa ‘Opa’, with 10 amazing octopus arms. He’s playing soccer, Lefevre asked four children, ages 10 and fishing, raking, ironing, and feeding his pets 11, to draw pictures of their grandparents. all at the same time! The crayon and colored pencil compositions reveal their subjects as The photograph to the right, is of Mr. genuine superheroes, far from shriveled DeRooy, 68, Anne’s grandfather, who up. She then enlisted seniors, to stage the put together a red costume based on grandkids’ drawings as photographs, with the drawing Anne created, and was then interesting and touching results. photographed in his living room in all his “Children have this very honest image multi-limbed glory.

"AS YOU GROW OLDER, YOUR PERSPECTIVE CHANGES. I NO LONGER THINK IN TERMS OF THE NEXT TEN, OR TWENTY YEARS. I THINK IN TERMS OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS." -John, 63

Brandon Stanton, HONY

THE HISTORY OF RETIREMENT In the beginning of time, retirement did not exist. During the Stone Age, everyone was fully employed until age 20, by which time usually everyone was dead. In those days, it was typical to carry on your line of work, regardless of your age group until you no longer could complete the tasks at hand (Weisman, 1999). As the centuries passed, the elderly population increased. They seemed to be everywhere, giving advice, repeating themselves, complaining about rheumatism, tying to help, getting in

the way and making younger people feel guilty. But, what truly made them unpopular with middle-aged men, were their tendencies to hang on to their wealth and poverty till the end. Which sprung the idea early retirement for the elderly. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t until Colonial America that people realized the elderly were threatening the social economic fabric, and finally chose to do something about it. What few people realized was that, at that time, Puritan leader Cotton Mather was the first to try to force the elderly

into early retirement.

for pay would be to pay them enough to stop working. Francis Townsend, was at But it wasn’t until 1883 that idea of the head of a movement, that proposed retirement was actually invented. a mandatory retirement at age 60, with government paid pensions of up to $200 a In 1883, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck month, an amount equivalent to a full salary of Germany came across a problem. for a middle income worker for that time. Marxists were threatening to gain support Horrified of the cost of retirement, President in Germany (Weisman, 1999). After Franklin D. Roosevelt then proposed the communist revolutions in several Eastern Social Security Act of 1935, which made European countries, most notably the workers pay for their own old-age insurance Soviet Union, the Germans feared that (Weisman, 1999). their own middle class would be tempted by the ideas of Karl Marx and Friedrich A new stage of life was created, the life after Engels. To help his countrymen resist your “working life”. But, what were people their blandishments, Bismarck announced to do, they were at a loss. At this time in that he would pension to any nonworking history, Eleanor Roosevelt believed the German over the age of 65. He stated answer was simple, if people weren’t going this knowing that hardly anyone lived into work, they could finally sit in their to 65 at the time, but not realizing that rocking chairs all day. In 1934, Eleanor said this arbitrary number would become the following: “Old people love their own the world standard for the exact year at things even more than young people do. It which old age begins and establish the means so much to sit in the same chair you precedent that government should pay sat in for a great many years” (Weisman, for growing old (Weisman, 1999). 1999). Not everyone felt that way. Most retired people wanted to continue working. The belief that humans are useless after a certain age, started with world renowned No work = All play physician William Older’s valedictory The opposite of work turned out to be play. address at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The first group of people to discover leisure During his address, he declared that the were the rich. But, it wasn’t until 1910, that years between 25 and 40 in a worker’s Florida finally became accessible to the career are the ‘15 golden years of plenty’. middle class. And in the 1920’s and 1930’s, He called it ‘the anabolic of constructive retirement communities began to appear, period’. Those workers between the and the number of golf courses tripled ages 40-60 were merely uncreative and, (Weisman, 1999). Once technological therefore tolerable. He then continued advances in television and movies began, on to say “those past the age of 60 were leisure time no longer meant doing nothing. useless and should be put to pasture.” There were now a plethora of activities for (Weisman, 1999). older people to do during their free time. “From now on the elderly would work at In 1935, it became evident that the only play” (Weisman, 1999). way to get old people to stop working

DEPRESSION / dih-presh-uhn/ :n Depression is a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate. Is depression in late life a natural part of aging? No, depression is not a normal part of growing older. It is a treatable medical illness, a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over the age of 65 in the United States. However, the reality is that in elderly people, depression mainly affects those with chronic medical illnesses and cognitive impairment. To those that are

affected, it may cause added suffering and family disruption, as well as worsen the outcomes of medical illnesses, and increases mortality (Alezopoulos, 2005). Retirement, or simply the idea of retirement and no longer being needed in your society, can lead you to feel symptoms of depression. The most common symptoms of late-life depression include: persistent sadness, feeling slowed down, excessive worries about finances and health problems, frequent tearfulness, feeling worthless or helpless weight changes, pacing and fidgeting, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating

(Alezopoulous, 2005).

LOSING A SPOUSE “Till death do us part” A couple of years back I remember reading a NY Times article, talking about the pains of losing a spouse. I went back to the archives, and somehow was able to find it. It was written by Jane E. Brody, and published in April of 2010, after having experienced the death of her husband. For some reason that article really resonated with me. Reading it again, I really felt her pain. When you marry the love of your life, you never truly expect to be parted by death. Losing someone so close to you leaves an emptiness that is very hard to fill. It leaves one feeling

lonely, and thinking of the little things one will miss. In Brody’s own words, “Who will open the jar that defies my efforts, close a stuck window, hold the ladder while I change a light bulb, split wood for the fireplace, take the wheel when I’m too sleepy to drive?” (Brody, 2010) That person that you chose to be there by your side all those years is suddenly gone. Its a hurdle to surpass. Even more so, is the thought of what they lost. The inability to watch their children and grandchildren grow into adults, and carry on their legacy. It may be the hardest hurdle some will face.

Daniella Franco, New York 2012

FEELING LONELY If one feels lonely, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due to a discrepancy between the level of social engagement a person wants to have and the one a person actually has. Two types of loneliness: Emotional loneliness: feeling distant from a particular person, such as spouse. Social loneliness feeling disconnected from a community or social circle (Conroy, 2012). There is currently a lack of research to form any conclusive data that

would state that depression becomes more predominate at an old age. More longitudinal research (research done at several points over time) is needed to determine if older people who report loneliness become lonely in old age, or if old people reporting loneliness have had a pattern of feeling lonely throughout life, which would indicate that old age is not the issue. Therefore, loneliness is not necessarily more common in old age than younger years.

“RECOGNIZING THAT WE WON’T LIVE FOR EVER CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE IN A POSITIVE WAY” -Laura Cartensen

CULTURE As Laura Carstensen, a Social Scientist discusses in her TED Talk: Older People are Happier, discusses the population shift and the paradox of aging. She touches base on the idea that as humans age, our horizons grow shorter. This allows us to see our priorities more clearly, take less notice of small matters, savor life for all its worth, become more appreciative, and more open to reconciliation. We invest in more emotionally important parts of life and allow it to get better. This in turn makes us happier day to day. That shift in perspective gives us tolerance in injustice.

So what will happen to those societies that are rapidly growing in age? Well, numbers will not determine the outcome, Culture will. As Laura states in her TED Talk, if we begin to invest in Science and Technology and focus on the real problems older people face and capitalize on the strengths of older people. Then added years of life will improve quality of life at all ages. It was this TED Talk, that allowed me to realize that if we integrate the older people and involve them within the design process, then they have the capability of saving us all.

One of the sources I used to further understand human behaviors and spontaneous human life, was a photo blog called Humans of New York (HONY) which is based on Facebook and has recently been published to a book. The mastermind behind HONY is photographer Brandon Stanton who since November 2011, has taken over 6,000 portraits. Brandon doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only take portraits of people, but also has a conversation with each of his encounters and writes up a caption allowing the viewer to feel closer to its subject. This particular moment between Doris and David, (depicted to the right) further proved the need for interactions with strangers after a certain age. Our search and need for companionship never ceases.

Brandon Stanton, HONY

On September 19th, Brandon captured this exchanged and captioned the image the following: “Whenever I did a show in the park, Doris would come over and watch for a bit. Then one day, she came up to me, and without having ever spoken to me, handed me a clipping of an article that she’d found about me in the Villager. I thought that was the nicest thing. So I took a photo with her, printed it out, and gave it to her the next day. Then the NEXT day, she brings me ANOTHER set of articles about marionettes. At this point, I’d really started to fall for her. So I thought: ‘Doris keeps one upping me. So I’ve got to do something really, really nice for her.” (Stanton, 2013)

Daniella Franco, Germany 2013

ARCHETYPE 3 STACEY

Stacey, the last of the archetypes, is mainly a composite based off of interviews, theories, and countless informal stories. During this section, one gains an understanding of the vital roles the elderly play in society and within families. You will be able to see the support, or lack thereof, received from family and friends through the last stages in life.

has had a difficult past and is living the rest of her days the way she wants to, in peace and with family. She is part of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;oldest oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; demographic, those past the age of 85. They are those who, at this point, have mainly turned to family to fully support them emotionally, socially, and economically. Stacey also exemplifies the majority of elderly folks who choose to live at home, alone and encounter restrictions that hinder there day to day activities.

Stacey, above all, is a grandmother who

"woman and child." by Sam Jinks Silicone, silk, human hair. 2010

year old female

STACEY â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was younger my parents sent me to a small village outside of Germany because they thought it would be safer. But I guess there were hidden munition stocks out there, because the Americans bombed the village. They flew very high, the Americans always flew very, very high and dropped the bombs. They were bombs filled with air. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to describe it, you know? You were killed by the air. The neighbors were killed. I spent all night hiding, but that was nothing compared to Vietnam.â&#x20AC;? (Harold Post, personal communication, August 15, 2012)

This simply testifies to the values of the elderly. They have seen realities most of us get the filtered, hero-filled versions of. Their knowledge of past experiences make them valuable members of our society, and make the rest of us wiser by allowing us to learn from past mistakes and prevent them from happening again in the future. Stacey Archetype will share the importance of family and knowledge, for sometimes that is all one has left.

FULFILLMENT Our motivations in life are based off the idea of “self actualization”, a term coined by Maslow in 1943, which states that it is human nature to seek fulfillment and personal growth in one’s life span. It is natural for a person to continuously search for an end goal. Through the searching process a person is able to find a meaning to life that is important to them (Mitchell & Moudgill, 1976 ). According to Abraham Maslow human fulfillment can be broken down to 8 stages that start from basic needs including biological and physiological needs, to safety needs, social needs, cognitive needs, aesthetic needs, self actualization needs, and transcendence needs. As we reach reach our goals we climb the ladder of fulfillment (Mitchell & Moudgill, 1976 ). As one ages, we become more knowledgeable, and closer and closer to experiencing a level of fulfillment by achieving all of one’s life goals. The elderly value life, and can become vital parts of our society if we allow and design for a better integration and use of their knowledge.

FAMILY

SOCIAL CIRCLES

CHILDREN

FAMILY

GRANDCHILDREN

FRIENDS

CHURCH MEMBERS

DOCTORS

& THEIR LOCATIONS

MOVIES

HOME

THEATERS

RELATIVES HOME

RUN ERRANDS WORK

CHURCH

BOOK CLUBS

GYM CLASSES

ART CLASSES

FAMILY The way family members view the elderly in the family are in a unique way. “I’d say shes pretty funny, and pretty wise, in a way she waits to reveal things... she has her opinions but chooses when to reveal them. She’s been single for ten years and is still alone.” (Mox, personal communication, , 2013). Now, an elder’s outlook of his or her family can be different depending on the family they are a part of. This following quote is one of many interactions on Humans of New York, that caught my attention. It is of an elderly woman talking about her interaction with her family. “Don’t tell me what to do, and I

won’t tell you what to do. That’s my motto. I have a lot of feelings about the decisions of my family members, but I don’t ever offer my opinions unless I’m asked. And that’s why I’m still invited to parties.” (Stanton, 2012). It’s kind of bizarre, because I know exactly what she means. Or at least know of the exact characteristics, since I have sometimes seen them in the older adults of my family. You know, the ones that believe they have seen it all, and done it all, and have the right to tell you how to live, and what to wear or what not wear, or say. Yes, we all have those matriarchs in our family. But one thing that will never change is that they are part of your family, no matter what.

The Mox Family

FAMILY ARCHETYPES There are three family archetypes based on my interviews, the ones that are supportive, the families that are tolerant, and then those that are dismissive. Supportive families, allow the elderly to have their independence, but also give them assistance in adapting to a changing world. They are the families that stay in touch, that see each other most often, and that are involved in the lives of their elderly relatives without being overbearing. Then there are those that are tolerant of their aging loved ones because they feel a sense of obligation. They choose to act out of pity and sympathy. This treatment tends to push the elderly away. And lastly there are those that are dismissive and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care less about their family members. Those typically will send the elderly off to a nursing home that will most likely not care for the aging adult.

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AGING IN PLACE In Meika Loe’s new book, Aging Our Way: Lessons for Living from 85 and Beyond, she discusses the recent desire of the current aging population to stay at home and live on their own terms, and how designers can help make it possible. As I’ve mentioned before, the fastest growing age group in the United States is the people 85 and over, and as longevity increases, the meaning of the word ‘old’ is changing. It is no longer defined as frail or dependent. The current ‘oldest old’ population is seeking to live a more independent lifestyle as they redefine old age into a more functional stage.

Through her book, Aging Our Way, Loe portrays the elders as she encounters them, through her research, as they really are: “lively, complicated, engaging people” (Loe, 2011). She tells the stories of several different elders in an awe inspiring manner, that allows her readers to empathize with them. She contradicts the general public’s perspectives of the elderly, which typically views them as social problems, or as diminished versions of their former selves. Every person in her book is simply trying to find the middle ground between autonomy and dependence. Loe has become one of the leaders of the current movement in redefining the aging process.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A house that is inadequate for the needs of the people living in it, never becomes a home.â&#x20AC;?

- Oya Dermirblek, Halime Demirkan

The Mox Family

Alterations to a home, in order to make it user-friendly, can be done by specialists, but also can be tackled by creative family members. This specific family was able to use creative, simple solutions in this particular elderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. These simple adjustments were done to facilitate a more conducive home for the aging. The alterations included larger buttons when possible and the placement of large stickers indicating power, start, or representing any numbered buttons. The changes went beyond the home, and included additions to what she carried with her throughout her day. A flashlight attached to a string worn around her neck allowed her to see in dim lighting. In addition, she uses a Jitter Bug cell phone, which requires little to no technological knowledge, with large numbers making the handling process simple and efficient.

DOES SUCCESSFUL AGING EXIST ? spread to allow the reader to see what the aging population now prioritize and find necessary to continue living a happy life. (further explanation of successful aging) page 1 of spread

Illustration by Damian O'Donohue

According to gerontologists and theorists, Rowe and Kahn, the concept of successful aging is multidimensional, encompassing the avoidance of disease and disability, the maintenance of high physical and cognitive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activities (Lister, 2002). It is no secret that, in our society, there is a rapidly increasing number of older people. This necessitates more attention to their needs and their role in society as they continue to age. By defining successful aging, they have invited

research, both in support and refutation, of their definition. Specifically, research has been directed at how people may age successfully. Such research has become more or less mainstream and has led to a focus on, and improvement of, quality of life for those advanced in age. In order to improve a standard, one must first be established. Since its establishment by Rowe and Kahn, the concept of successful aging has been debated, supported, refuted, and improved upon. The main benefit is its being talked about and researched.

HOWEVER, WE CANNOT ALL BE LUCKY ENOUGH TOAGE GRACEFULLY & SUCCESSFULLY. Death and Life, Gustav Klimt 1910

â&#x20AC;&#x153;So here I am, at the age of 86 attempting to tell you the story of my life. Of how I got to where I am now... living in a nursing home with assisted living because I can no longer partake in society or take care of myself for that matter. I was lucky to have people who cared about me the majority of my life, but not everyone is that lucky. I pray that future patrons will have a more successful aging experience, and an easier transition, for aging is not an easy process.â&#x20AC;? -Amy Archetype

Movie: Bad Grandpa, 2013

AGEISM & TECHNOLOGY Ageist views have typically depicted older people as poor, frail, and resistant to change. Yet, we now know from repeated studies that a lot of the general public between the ages of 18-64 years old are the ones that would associate old age with low income and poor health. On the contrary, those that are actually 65 and over have reported that poor health has not been a problem for them personally (Cutler, 2006). Outsiders have a certain way they view the aging, which differs with the way they feel, but affects the way they act and limits the things they can do.

Ageism and technology affect one another. Ageism has important implications for how technologies are developed and marketed, just as ageism can be an influential factor affecting the adaptation of new technologies by older people. Does this mean we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push technological advances toward the elderly, or just the exact opposite? My grandma Ema has recently started to text, and seems to be getting the hang of it pretty quickly, and why shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t she? She attends classes that help her progress as technology advances; she makes the extra effort to be a part of the young generation.

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DANIELLE Meet Danielle, a composite-person created by filmmaker Anthony Cerniello. Danielle was inspired by the phenomenom of taking everyday portraits over a span of time. It all first started with Noah Kalina, who created the now famous “Everyday” time-lapse. He photographed himself every day for over 6 years (2001-2006), generating around 2,400 pictures which then were edited to create a 5 minute long timelapse video. Noah has continued to take photographs of himself till this day, making his current time lapse 12.5 years long, 4,514 photos and still a work in progress. Unlike Noah, Cerniello did not take pictures of himself everyday, he instead created a composite-person, using photos taken of different family members ranging from the youngest to oldest. Cerniello wanted to visually show the

aging process through a simulation that would be subtle in the changes yet would capture the feeling of aging. Here’s the story of how he did it: Last Thanksgiving, Cerniello traveled to his friend Danielle’s family reunion and with still photographer Keith Sirchio shot portraits of her youngest cousins through to her oldest relatives with a Hasselblad medium format camera. Then began the process of scanning each photo with a drum scanner at the U.N. in New York, at which point he carefully edited the photos to select the family members that had the most similar bone structure. Next he brought on animators Nathan Meier and Edmund Earle who worked in After Effects and 3D Studio Max to morph and animate the still photos to make them lifelike as possible. Finally, Nuke (a kind of 3D visual effects software) artist George Cuddy was brought on to smooth out some small details like the eyes and hair.

“I ATTEMPTED TO CREATE A PERSON 76

IN ORDER TO EMULATE THE AGING PROCESSâ&#x20AC;? -five-minute video by filmmaker Anthony Cerniello

FINAL THOUGHTS The most fundamental requirement to the design process is knowledge of the consumer, their environments, cultural views, social values, and economic status (Ndahi, 2001). Because cultural, social, regional, and environmental differences exist between different consumers around the world, designers must find ways to accommodate for diversity. In order for good design to occur, designers must understand the user. It should be the first step in the design process.

to be a lack of products as well as desire to design for the elderly as the target consumer.

I wrote this book in order to further understand my main user, the aging population. My ability to empathize with human beings has always been my strength. I understand that everyone living will face the hardships of remaining integrated with oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s societies and as well as some bumps when trying to ease into the aging process. With this in mind, I hope to further pursue design Research seems to suggest that current directions that will lessen the barriers trends in design are favoring a more that prevent the elderly specifically inclusive approach to the process and dementia patients . The objective is to outcome. As a group, the elderly is an create bridges between generations and emerging population with numbers never focus on the strengths of the elderly, not seen before. And yet, there still seems the weaknesses.

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