Design for Dignified Aging: A Care-centered Retirement Community Model in La Paz, México

Abstract

Both in México and globally, life expectancy has increased thanks to medical advances and the control and treatment of chronic diseases. However, this fact has also impacted the spaces dedicated to aging, where the lives of older adults can be dignified. This research thoroughly examines the situation of older adults in northwestern México and reveals a gap in specialized care services for the senior population. The research team conducted the study in La Paz, Baja California Sur. It developed a master plan for a retirement community for residents, adopting the Continuing Care Retirement Community model that prioritizes the care and monitoring of older adults through comprehensive assistance. The intervention focuses on the residential area and aims to reduce inequalities through design, taking users' levels of autonomy into account. The proposal focuses on gerontological theories of inclusion that allow for the creation of community through an architecture of care for aging women.