"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and
social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity"
WHO
The People's Library
Minimal contact between people during the pandemic has revealed just how much we need to connect with each other for physical, mental and emotional support.
So how might we strengthen community support structures by enabling the chance for meaningful social connection in public spaces?
Isolation takes a toll on a person’s quality of life — a difficulty made more prominent and evident by the COVID-19 pandemic — its effects perhaps especially pronounced in older adults. But when people living within the same locality begin building and rebuilding relationships with each other, everyone benefits. The result of this project includes physical spaces for people to meet, objects that encourage person-to-person interactions, and services that make the whole system work while further connecting people to their communities. More robust communities help everyone to feel less lonely, provide support where it's needed, and make life more enjoyable overall.
The story begins
I grew up in Scarborough, a suburb on the east end of Toronto that is home to mostly immigrants, families and ethic minorities. Growing up, I never really knew my grandparents, but around me I noticed there were always older adults hanging around at malls, in coffee shops and in libraries. My curiosity about their lives certainly inspired this project in some way.
Key Insights
A threat to overall wellbeing and safety
Isolation tends to be a hidden issue, by definition a person is lacking connection with other people. It is not a concern reserved for older adults. But many lifestyle changes that tend to stack up later in life (such as the passing of friends and family members, children moving out and decreased mobility to name a few) can make the isolation especially acute. Isolated older adults are at greater risk for developing mental illness and cognitive decline, as well as becoming victims of abuse or scams.
Overworked caregivers
The role of caring for and connecting with the elderly has largely fallen on immediate family members, nurses and PSWs, when historically a community of people would all look out for each other. This sectioning off of elderly care compounded with the growing population of older adults is not ideal for either of them. The quality of care can be severely compromised with only so much attention and care to go around, and caregivers are at high risk for burn out, mental and physical health complications.
Social infrastructure
The presence of adequate social infrastructure, those public places where people are free to be without needing to pay for anything, can be indicative of a healthy and safe community. Examples of these spaces include parks, libraries, and to an extent, malls.
​
So how might we better utilize these spaces to foster community health
by designing new experiences within them?
Result:
the Physical Space
Result: the Experience
