A new design concept: Creating social solutions for old age 26/10/08
Published in the International Herald Tribune, October 26th 2008, by Alice Rawsthorn
Extract
What’s the secret of a happy, healthy old age? Money? Grandchildren? Great doctors? They all help, but not as much as the two most important ingredients: a social network of at least six people who you see regularly and freedom from worrying about everyday problems like leaking taps and broken light bulbs.
That’s the conclusion of Hilary Cottam, co-founder of the social design group, Participle, after a year of analyzing the lives of the elderly residents of Southwark, one of London’s poorer boroughs. “It’s staggering how little the quality of their lives is determined by income,” she said. “The secrets are being socially connected and not having to worry about minor things like changing light bulbs. If you take away the little hindrances that can stop an elderly person with limited energy from doing other things, you can make a huge difference.”
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