Abstract

Issues relating to Quality of Life (QoL) for the elderly are now more pronounced than ever due to, among other factors, people living longer. With current UK projections suggesting that by 2033, twenty-three percent of the population will be aged 65 and over, it is apparent that the elderly will increasingly represent a strong social-political force. This increasing number of elderly people and higher expectations of a good life within society has been paralleled by a moderate amount of research on QoL for the elderly. However, despite this burgeoning amount of research and scholarly activities on the subject, it would appear that there is still room for improvement, particularly with regard to enquiry on the auspicious physical environment needed to enhance QoL for the elderly. How do we (re)design both the in- and out-door environments to ensure propitious living conditions for these sections of society? To what extent do, and how best can, decision makers take into account the values, needs and abilities of the elderly in the design of the built environment? Unpacking these profound questions should reveal a panorama of issues that can set the stage for a tripartite research agenda on QoL, the elderly, and the built environment. It is not the intention of this paper to provide answers to such questions but rather to simply establish the case for research. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify knowledge gaps on the contribution of the physical built environment in enhancing Quality of Life (QoL) for the elderly. This is achieved by scanning through the literature to identify best practice and knowledge gaps and also providing initial thoughts on a methodological framework for pursuing the emerging research issues.