What is the HOUSE project?
In the HOUSE project, we are conducting research into innovation in living for older people and subjective wellbeing (i.e. the personal parameters that contribute to a person feeling good). But how do we do this exactly? We have defined 4 research questions and 4 related objectives (see `main objectives` below) to which we want to find answers during the 4-year research process.
We would like to emphasize 2 major focus points in the applied research approach. On the one hand, we use different research methods in which we combine qualitative and quantitative methods. This `mixed-method approach` has the advantage of looking at the research topics from various angles in order to formulate nuanced and well-founded answers. On the other hand, we are strongly committed to co-create with stakeholders from the field. By involving social partners from different sectors, we can establish a direct link between the research and actual, life-based questions and needs.
Below you can read more about our goals and the practical tools we want to develop within the HOUSE project.
Identify heterogeneity among older adults.
Understand innovative housing (concepts and characteristics) that contribute to older adults’ subjective wellbeing.
Test and validate the housing for older adults’ subjective wellbeing evaluation instrument.
Develop and evaluate spatial scenarios for innovative housing for older adults’ subjective wellbeing.
The HOUSE project will develop several tools to bring research results on innovative housing for older people and subjective wellbeing into practice. With these tools we want to reach several target groups, including older people themselves and their direct networks, but also care providers, (interior) architects, policy makers and students/teachers of specific disciplines. We strive to narrow the gap between research and practice as much as possible by working closely with social partners. We also think it is important to make all the tools as user-friendly and efficient as possible, and to make them available in both physical and digital versions, including through the HOUSE website.
A first tool is a set of fictional characters that give a real representation of various older people, also known as personas. Personas can help to visualise the great heterogeneity of older people and bring them `to life`, as it were. These personas are `data-driven`, which means that the characteristics are based on both quantitative and qualitative data from the research. The personas can be used in the design or evaluation of housing projects and concepts, but also in policy-making regarding innovation in housing for older people and subjective well-eing.
Secondly, HOUSE is developing a tool to assess the impact of home environments on older people. Home environments have a major influence on the subjective wellbeing of residents. This diagnostic tool makes it possible to map out these influences so that, for example, pro-active measures can be taken in the future.
A third tool compiles the scientific findings of HOUSE into an overview of spatial scenarios for innovative housing concepts for current and future older people. These insights can be used to make informed decisions about housing for older people, taking into account the subjective wellbeing of the residents.
