AT A GLANCE: The number of older adults who like to meet each other in public spaces in the Netherlands is increasing. For this article, older adults were surveyed regarding their wants and needs for public meeting spaces. By means of a literature search on ergonomics, interviews, observations, and discussions with experts and older adults, a list of needs and preferences was created and used to guide a design for an outdoor meeting space for older adults, dubbed “The Oud-door.” Older adults were engaged in the design process by asking them questions, discussing the ideas and concepts with them, and, finally, conducting a usability test. Manufacturer Jan Kuipers Nunspeet will develop this design further, and “The Oud-door” will be available on the market in the near future.
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