Long-Term Residential Care and the Built Environment: Improving Quality of Life and Resilience Through a Universal Design Approach

This paper draws on a series of transdisciplinary research projects examining the role of the built environment in supporting quality of life in long-term residential care settings (LTRC) in Ireland. Acknowledging the impact of COVID-19, these projects include airborne infection control as a key theme. Moreover, considering the wide spectrum of needs, impairment, and health conditions experienced by people living in these settings, along with the diversity of residents, staff, and visitors who occupy LTRC buildings, the research is underpinned by a Universal Design (UD) approach. Finally, climate change is examined as emerging challenge, particularly for older people living in LTRC. Starting with these major concerns, this exploratory paper examines how UD can act as a bridging concept to bring together inclusion, quality of life, health and wellbeing, and climate resilience in the context of long-term residential care in Ireland and beyond.