Stigma and the Built environment

Abstract

This thesis focusses on the influence of the built environment on the stigma of elderly. Stigma and assumptions over past care concepts influence care giving and age-exclusion, which create a misconception of the current state of care facilities. This misconception limits the possibility of an inclusive built environment for the elderly. The perception of age differs for each individual, culture, country, and gender, which is why this research focused on how stigma of growing old in the Netherlands can be decreased. This research uses quantitative data to examine how the built environment contributes to decrease stigma about aging in society? Stigma is a social problem which causes problems in health, social connections, and self-esteem. Social awareness, education, contact, a supportive environment, appropriate care systems, decreasing and acting against stigmatic behavior, encouraging empowerment, promoting greater understanding, and increasing experiences can lower stigma. Architecture defines the context in which social events take place and how care and social systems are organized. It can provide expectations as well as limiting or give access to information and functions towards specific stigmatic groups. Using thematic analysis 5 key design elements were discovered to decrease stigma using the built environment, namely by creating a positive or similar value as the surrounding, through empowering the stigmatized group, by providing the necessary needs and desires for the individual, by creating communities and by facilitating awareness.