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Our ideas about senior citizens are outdated. We have no concept of independent, outgoing seniors who might want to do things by themselves or enjoy life.
Why is the design of public spaces so elder-unfriendly? Or, for that matter any experience touch point for the aged. Are senior citizens so invisible from our radar that they don’t matter?
At a well known property where there was a recent gathering of many aged, differently- abled people, several accidents were waiting to occur. The distance from the dining to the room elevator required one to come out of the property under open air. It was hard to navigate the path in pitch darkness with lighting that was kept dim only for aesthetics. The staircase at another end of the property had no railings! The banister had been replaced by potted plants. Even signages were confusing!
Instead, there were installations, manicured lawns, statues, expensive lighting etc etc. So, no problem with budgets evidently!
Coming to the design of menus in restaurants etc. Everywhere there are kids’ menus, vegan menus, diabetic-friendly low carb, gluten-free…but a simple no-chilly, no-spicy menu that older people feel comfortable with never found.
An insight that is relevant here is that independent, outgoing seniors aren’t a concept we understand as a culture. We presume they lose all their autonomy when old, and will be accompanied by family always.
It’s the outlook that needs addressing before design. At clinics, elder patients are ignored or patronised. Conversations will be addressed only to the younger attendant.
Speaking of Experience Design, travel tours for elders are designed to be more religious. Another presumption. There is the obligatory temple visit even if the holiday isn’t a pilgrimage. This is awful for sporty, culturally-rich, curious people who refuse to be bundled off into a Kashi-package. They have too much of living to do!
Elder facilities are consolidated in spaces such as posh “retirement” (there is no such thing) condos that have become popular these days. But why not make any space inclusive with thoughtful design? With the increasing number of men and women who are single by choice, aging in the next couple of decades, but living rich, fulfilled lives – these are questions for design practices to consider.
Yes, we are young, demographically. That 75% population is under 35 years is a stat lapped up by marketers. Everything is marketed to the young and upwardly mobile (think of the annoying 30-under-30 listicles).
But, so much is changing culturally with life expectancy, gender role redefinition, and living life to the fullest – that design must raise the bar for the next set of seniors-to-be.
Image source: a still from the film Life in a Metro
Aparna Raman is a design educator and practitioner at the Srishti Manipal Institute Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore. She is also the founder of Timbuktoo, a platform for creative writing and publishing books by kids read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
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It is shameful that in today's world too, women are abused and even killed for giving birth to a girl, and the infant's life is also of no value.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence, suicide, and violence against women, and may be triggering to survivors.
I am so glad that the esteemed courts are now giving the much-required verdicts regarding certain ideologies that were not at all entertained earlier. I mean we all have studied this much biology at our school level and it is our duty (our generation) to educate our elders about it.
Why someone have to lose a life to bring such awareness to the society. Delhi High Court gave this judgement concerning a case that filed by the deceased daughter’s parents against her in-laws. She committed suicide as she was harassed and tortured for dowry and giving birth to two daughters.
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