CATÁLOGO DE INVESTIGACIONES | AÑO ACADÉMICO 2019-2020 91 Architecture in Senior Living In health, quality of life can be studied as a multidimensional concept that includes physical, mental, and social wellbeing indicators. The built context triggers cognition, so “cognitive neuroscience” and “perception” play important roles in the architectural design field. The human brain is mostly “vision oriented”, closely followed by hearing and touch; consequently, people have multiple subconscious tendencies and behaviors that govern their responses to what they see, hear and feel within the built environment. A functional design, in the neuro-architecture aspect, is one that is knowledgeable of perception, making whoever enters the environment interact in a predesigned manner and for a preset reason. Living and care facilities for the elderly that are designed to simplify spatial orientation and wayfinding contributes to sensorial stimulation and cues, therefore improving long term memory and emotional health, which in turn results in quality of life. To have a successful facility, the architect has to design considering the neuroscience behind their project, and how this impacts the people inhabiting it. Possibilities for senior care alternatives are vast and designed according to the private entity in charge, but they can be summed up to five options: active adult programs, independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. This project proposes a place where elders can experience a new way of living by focusing their care alternatives from a neuroscientific aspect. Aside from residential facilities, this project aims to provide healthcare services to residents, as well as to their families and the public. The design of the project is set in a campus setting, with clusters of buildings separated by use and communal areas that serve residents and visitors. naomi g. sánchez carmona bachillerato en arquitectura mentor: arq. manuel de lemos y arq. jesús o. garcía senior living elderly neuroscience architecture quality of life
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