Senior Housing Traditions
Understanding the Dynamics of Senior Housing in Naaldwijk from WWII to the Present Housing Crisis
R. de Wilde (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
R.V.M. Peeters – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
This thesis addresses the pressing issue of a housing shortage in the Netherlands, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by the elderly population of Naaldwijk, a town situated in the heart of the municipality of Westland, the Netherlands. By comparing historical and contemporary contexts, the thesis aims to provide insights into the motivations behind seniors’ transitions from family homes to specialized senior housing post-World War II and the factors hindering such moves in the present day. Through case studies, the thesis delves into the evolution of senior housing and its impact on the housing crisis.
The study begins by outlining the current housing crisis, emphasizing the growing need for age-appropriate homes for seniors. It then explores a specialized senior housing type from 1947-1972, revealing the motivations driving seniors to transition, such as communal living dynamics and care provisions. Subsequently, the study examines a specialized senior center from 1972-1996, where factors like privacy and independence became crucial motivations for seniors to move out of their family homes.
Examining the current housing types in the following chapter shows the contemporary challenges presenting significant barriers to seniors contemplating the move out of their family home. Exclusivity, affordability, and limited housing options hinder seniors from leaving their family homes despite the desire for community and care.
The last chapter offers a list of all found advantages to the examined case-studies, which is then relativized to the current times, leading to the recommendation to develop housing models that balance the traditional values with contemporary criteria in a nuanced manner.
In conclusion, the study underscores the complex interplay of historical and contemporary factors shaping senior housing decisions. By understanding these motivations and challenges, policymakers can develop inclusive and equitable housing solutions for the elderly, thereby addressing the pressing needs of an aging population amidst a housing crisis.