Assessment of housing resilience in relation to the impacts of aging

The increase in the elderly population can be observed in various countries around the world, including Brazil. Aging involves the individual as a whole, and there are natural structural and functional changes associated with this process. These changes correspond to impacts capable of reducing the independence of the elderly. For each impact, house renovation can be undertaken to compensate. Such renovations will possibly be simpler and more economical in a resilient house. Are current houses resilient to the demands of aging? To answer this question, it is necessary to understand what resilience is and then measure it. The objectives of this article are: (i) to expose the level of resilience of houses regarding the impacts of aging; (ii) to present and discuss the results; and (iii) to prescribe changes in the house to increase its resilience. For this purpose, two post-occupancy evaluation instruments were prepared: an impact questionnaire and a resilience ruler. This research was conducted based on the Design ScienceResearch method. Additionally, a case study was used to test the evaluation instruments and obtain specific data from Residencial Sucesso Brasil, part of a social housing complex located in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The primary factor contributing to the diminished resilienceof the residential units at Residencial Sucesso Brasil compared to the original design and the requirements of aging was the elimination of illuminating areas. It is necessary and urgent to establish a collaborative relationship between architects and engineers and the residents of the residential complex to facilitate the construction of more resilient housing.