Built Environment, Housing, and Consumer Well-Being: The Case of Older Consumers

Changing global population structures bring renewed relevance to the connection between the built environment, health, and well-being, as increasing longevity and lower fertility rates drive demographic shifts towards ageing societies in many parts of the world. The built environment is multi-layered, shaping consumers’ health and well-being outcomes. This chapter provides a better understanding of how design in the built environment impacts the health, mobility, and liveability of older consumers and also offers recommendations for more informed policy decisions to advance the built environment and housing for the well-being of all consumers, particularly older consumers. The first section briefly discusses the impact of the built environment and housing on consumer health and well-being. The second section discusses the theoretical frameworks underpinning the relationship between the built environment and consumer well-being. The third is dedicated to the built environment influences on health and well-being, with an emphasis on older consumers. Finally, the chapter highlights the role that health-supportive and well-designed built environments play in empowering consumers in making health and well-being-related decisions regarding lifestyle choices to optimise their overall well-being across social, economic, ecological, and biopsychosocial domains.