Urban space and housing: perspectives of accessibility and functionality in old age

• Grant number: 13/22021-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2014
• End date: September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Luzia Cristina Antoniossi Monteiro
• Grantee: Luzia Cristina Antoniossi Monteiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Francisco ; Karina Gramani Say ; Marisa Silvana Zazzetta ; Vania Aparecida Gurian Varoto

Abstract

Urban space must accommodate in a dignified manner the exponential number of elderly people which statistics show for the coming years. The housing location and its surroundings is one of the variables that may affect positively or negatively in the elderly functional aspects, they can strengthen their independence, autonomy or dependence. For this reason the habitation must meet the accessibility conditions and dispose all the necessary adaptations for the elderly corresponding to their desires and potentials favoring their functionality. The aim of this study is identifying the applicability of accessibility conditions inside a housing condo for the elderly, focusing on aspects of accessibility of buildings, as well as the urban accessibility around them. Also to verify functional aspects of the residents of the house's space and the neighborhood according to the perception of those involved as accessibility standards and laws in force in Brazil. This is a descriptive study, based on the assumptions of the method qualitative and quantitative investigation with exploratory fieldwork, also visiting the housing for elderly and conducting interviews with residents and managers. Also will be analyzed primary sources (documents, laws, bibliographic data) and secondary as photos. A longitudinal study will cross the research steps planned initially for the period of 5 (five) years (2013/2017). All care will be taken to observe the ethical principles that rule the research with human beings, and the project has been sent to CEP-UFSCar. Urban space should be thought starting from the new challenges and demands generated by the organizational evolution of the spaces, the people who inhabit them, and especially taking into account aspects of the highlighted Brazilian aging process . Accessibility is a resource that enables the inclusion, integration and could functionally facilitate the elderly in the context of housing, community, political and social life in the city. (AU)