Matter: Mass That Takes Up Space

Mattering: Having Significance or Importance; Belonging.

Nursing Homes have been a part of the architectural lexicon of Americans since their inception. The highly idealized model of personal responsibility that is ingrained in American Culture is ultimately disenfranchising those who can no longer be accountable for themselves and require assistance in order to survive. Our complete denial in the inevitability of aging has made Americans group older adults together as one singular entity with a particular identity. The process of aging is unique to every individual down to the rate each part of the body ages. These biases and misinformation perpetuate stereotypes that invalidate the autonomy and individuality of older Americans. This is blindingly apparent in the architecture we build and spaces that are designed for them. While quality care and spaces that generate a physically and mentally healthy living environment should be available at any stage in life, the environment we have built for them as it is, does none of this. In fact, people are dying sooner than they should in these facilities because of these factors.

In 2050, one third of the American Population, approximately 111 million people, will be over the age of 65 and therefore would be eligible for programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Even now, 80-85% of Texas Nursing Home residents rely on Medicare or Medicaid to fund their stays in assisted living facilities such as nursing homes. Older Care facilities are in dire need of an update. On its current path, the surplus fund safety net that allocates money for disability, retirement and social security for American seniors will become completely depleted by 2034. Pay outs will be cut by 22% as the system will have to rely on incoming funds on a year-to-year basis. This will have detrimental effects to the already inhumane quality of care and housing the elderly will be able to receive. The elderly population of America is in dire need of housing that can provide quality care, autonomy, and a safe place to live out the rest of their life, however long that may be.