Design innovation for the home to support the Third Age

An ageing population is a global phenomenon and life expectancy is increasing. By 2050, more than two billion people, or one in five of us, will be aged 60 or over. During this period of life, known as the ‘third age’, most of us will still be fit and healthy, with little need for social care or support.

Third-agers will also have huge spending power. In the next couple of decades, experts predict that adults aged 55+ will account for 63p of every pound spent in the UK.

For those designing, furnishing, and equipping the home of the future, this group presents a massive untapped market. While adapting houses for older-living has traditionally involved installing walk-in showers and work surfaces with adjustable heights, a more fundamental rethink about what a house for the third age will look like is needed. Not only will dwellings need to be accessible and comfortable, they must also become enjoyable, life-affirming spaces for occupants to socialize, relax, exercise, and continue to work – in style.

With all this in mind, innovators across the globe are developing clever solutions to ensure that the 'Home 3.0' is fit for its third- age inhabitants, including:-

More detailed information can be found on the attached intelligence report by Aritco Home Lifts and Springwise.

^{Above - New Aritco DesignWall 'Geometric'}

ARITCO HOME LIFTS at Design London

For the past 25 years, Aritco has developed lifts for an infinite number of environments. With a keen interest in how people live and work, we have combined smart technology, stylish Swedish design, and cutting-edge security to create elegant lifts for the twenty-first century.

Aritco will present a new DesignWall called Geometric for its fully customizable Aritco HomeLift at Design London from 21^st until 24^th September. It will also host a talk at the fair at 2pm on Wednesday 21^st September examining how innovative design can transform the home to support an ageing population.

The panel discussion titled, Redefining the Home for the Third Age, will focus on how designers and architects can ensure that houses can cater for an ageing population. By 2050, over two billion people in the world, or one in five of us, will be aged 60 or over, and ’third agers’ will have huge spending power.

David Schill, Marketing Director of Aritco Lift, will be joined by Colum Lowe, Director of the Design Age Institute, who specializes in this field. The third panellist, Kyle Scorgie, Project Head at PriestmanGoode, will offer a unique perspective from the transport sector which has been focused on improving mobility and comfort for an older demographic for decades. The talk will be moderated by design writer and curator Riya Patel.