Keywords: N.A.
In the Netherlands and many other countries in the world the life expectancy is increasing (The World
Bank, 2019). Subsequently, the percentage of the Dutch population of 65 years and older has grown
from eleven percent in 1975 to twenty percent in 2021 (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2021a). The
predictions are that this percentage will increase to 26% near 2040 (Central Bureau of Statistics,
2021b). This indicates the growing population of older adults in the Netherlands.
As a result of this growth, nursing homes could overflow. Therefore, a policy change was necessary.
With the program “Langer Thuis” (Rijksoverheid, 2020b) older adults are stimulated to live longer in
their own home. This program allocates millions of euro’s available for better support and care at
home, assistance to informal caregivers and volunteers and more suitable housing for older adults.
With this program, in combination with the “Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning 2015”
(Rijksoverheid, 2015) older adults are stimulated to live longer in their own home. According to the
WoonOnderzoek, the “Langer Thuis” program responds to most of the wishes and needs of the
population of older adults (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, 2018). Moreover, these changes will
contribute to the reduction of governmental expenses for care (Rossum et al., 2014).
However, there are not only advantages to older adults being able to live longer in their own homes.
One large disadvantage that occurs is that older adults can become lonely and will have less social
contact than they desire (RIVM, 2020). The consecutive problem is that loneliness can increase the
chance of poor health behaviors, physical health problems and psychiatric conditions (Crewdson,
2016). A cooperation between the Municipal Health Services, the Central Bureau for Statistics and the
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has investigated loneliness among
older adults in the Netherlands. The study “Gezondsheidsmonitor” revealed that more than 56% of
older adults aged 75 and over experience loneliness (RIVM, 2020). With the growing population of
older adults in the Netherlands, loneliness can be stated as a problem that requires more attention. In
2021 there are more than 1,3 million older adults of 75 and over and this number is predicted to
increase to 2,1 million in 2030 (Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, 2018). The older adults that live
longer in their own homes are susceptible to loneliness and the associated adverse effects.
Based on the aforementioned reasons, it can be concluded that loneliness is a serious problem that
requires attention. It has even been referred to as a “silent killer” (Pennycook, 2016). Loneliness is
based on feelings and every individual can experience this in different ways, which means that multiple
intervention techniques are applicable. A recent development proposed by the Dutch government in
order to battle loneliness is the creation of physical meeting places designed for older adults
(Netherlands Enterprise Agency, 2022). With more social interactions between the older adults within
their neighborhood or complex the feelings of loneliness could be decreased. This strategy seems easy,
but it is unclear if there are physical characteristics or experiences that could influence the feelings of
loneliness and social interactions. Therefore, this research aims to identify such physical characteristics
of the meeting places that might influence the feelings of loneliness and social interaction among older
adults. This research will focus on already implemented physical meeting places in social apartment
complexes for older adults. Older adults are defined as 65 years and up.