“What are the residential needs of people with autism as they grow older, and how can we create the best possible setting for this group of people as they enter their twilight years?”

Specialist Area Autism posed these questions a few years back with a view to contributing answers, as the Specialist Area discovered there was very little knowledge of autism and ageing, or of homes designed with this target group in mind.

That was how the Seniors House came into being – four residences for elderly people with autism built as a small unit because the target group benefits from living in a sheltered, micro community. Seniors House can also accommodate people with physical disabilities.

Learn more about Seniors House

You can read much more about Seniors House and the architectural ideas behind Denmark’s first homes for the elderly designed for people with autism by downloading the sheet on Seniors House (pdf).

Part of National Research Project

Seniors House is much more than focusing on the architectural side of how to meet the challenges of growing old with autism. From 2014-2018 Seniors House also took part in a national research project trying to answer the question: How does a person with an autism diagnosis cope with life changes?

With 4.86 million DKR in funding from the Velux Foundation the Seniors House and four other autism centres in Denmark came together to examine what happens when people with autism age. The aim was to maintain the quality of life when living conditions change.

In need of knowledge

Many residential and day care centres for adult people with autism found that there are particular difficulties associated with age with an autism diagnosis. The changes that occur in the aging process challenge the life and quality of life that is built up over many years. When the diagnosis is still relatively new, there is not much knowledge about how people with autism age. 

CFK - Public Health and Quality in Region Midtjylland (now called Defactum) managed the research project through the process for 3 ½ years.

- Through a practice-based research approach, the centres worked collaboratively to develop new methods that both the carers and citizens can use to manage the challenges associated with aging with autism, says consultant from CFK - Public Health and Quality Improvement, Central Denmark Region, Lise Marie Witt Udsen.

Download the final report about aging and autism (pdf)

Specialist Area Autism innovated and implemented the unique, flexible, mobile housing concept called AT Home to help tackle social exclusion for adults with autism.