Exploring built environment features for the improvement of the social life of elderly and young adults in urban areas in India, in the covid-19 scenario: a qualitative study.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted and forced upon drastic changes in all spheres of our lives. In comparison to other age groups, the imposition of home quarantine and the associated social isolation is far more detrimental to the well-being of the elderly and the young adults. Conventionally, the educational institutions, where most of the young adults in urban areas spend a significant amount of their time, provide them with the opportunities to form social relationships and involve in meaningful social activities. The shift to the online education system, is disrupting their social lives and also leading them to withdraw from active outdoor lives and immerse in sedentary virtual worlds, which might lead to harmful long-term consequences on their overall psychological well- being. The crucial need for outdoor activities and social communication on the well-being of the elderly has been established by a plethora of studies. Additionally, the change in the traditional Indian family structure due to urbanisation, has led to the shifting of adult children away from their parents, leading to the loss in the family based,care-giving and social support system for the elderly population. Besides, in contrast to other age groups, a substantial population of the Indian elderly, are still not well-acquainted with social media, and therefore, are suffering from higher degrees of social isolation, deprived of physical communication with their social peers. The pandemic has made us realize the immense need to equip our home and the immediate surrounding or neighborhood, with essential infrastructure or built environment features, to cater to the requirements of our daily well-being. The present study, through discussions with small groups of individuals belonging to young adults and elderly population in India, first identifies how the pandemic has changed the pattern of their daily social engagements and then explores the features that they desire to be incorporated in their built environment to improve their social lives.