Habitat Satisfaction of the Elderly

Methodological Study Using the e-Delphi Method

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between the built environment and human health has advanced significantly, highlighting the importance of considering physical, emotional and community aspects in urban planning. Housing satisfaction appears as a crucial element in this context, being closely linked to the well-being and quality of life of the inhabitants. Recognizing the diversity in individual perceptions, preferences, needs and evaluations, it is essential to adapt the residential environment to meet these variations. The effectiveness of the methodology and data collection instruments directly impacts the advancement of research on housing satisfaction. In this sense, the current study aimed to build and validate an assessment scale for elderly people's housing satisfaction, adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach. Using the e-Delphi method and counting on the participation of experts in the instrument's areas of interest, such as gerontology, architecture and housing, the results demonstrated that housing satisfaction is influenced by several factors, from physical characteristics of the home to social and demographic aspects. The resulting scale was organized into three main domains: Surroundings, Building and Singularities, subdivided into items that address both objective and subjective aspects of housing. These elements, together, contribute to configuring a built environment that plays a central role in promoting the satisfaction and well-being of residents, standing out as an essential component in the search for a more human and sustainable architecture.