The Accessible Residential Features Framework for Elderly Residential Environment in China: A Pilot Study Findings
Abstract
The rapid growth of the elderly population worldwide, particularly in China, has intensified the demand for residential environments that effectively support ageing in place. Inadequate accessibility within housing and surrounding communities can limit independence, reduce quality of life, and increase safety risks for older adults. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive understanding of both indoor and outdoor residential features that accommodate age-related needs. This study aims to develop and preliminarily validate an Accessible Residential Features Framework tailored to the elderly residential environment in China. The framework seeks to identify key environmental features that enhance accessibility, safety, and daily functioning for older residents. This study utilises quantitative survey data to test and refine the various components of the framework. Conducted as a pilot survey, it aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework. Findings confirmed two primary dimensions of accessible residential facilities: indoor and outdoor amenities. Indoor facilities encompass barrier-free entrances, accessible circulation within building interiors, and environmental adaptations for older adults. Outdoor amenities cover activity spaces and landscaped green areas suitable for older adults, outdoor facilities, and community transport systems. Overall, this pilot study provides empirical support for the proposed framework and demonstrates its potential applicability. The findings lay a solid foundation for future large-scale empirical research and further refinement of accessible housing design strategies to support home-based ageing for older adults in China.
Downloads
References
Arias-Merino, E. D., Espinel-Bermudez, M. C., Vázquez-Arias, C. E., & Medrano-Ramos, M. (2022). Aging in Place and Quality of Life. Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging, 289–294. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22009-9_640
Bamzar, R. (2019). Assessing the quality of the indoor environment of senior housing for a better mobility: a Swedish case study. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 34(1), 23–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-018-9623-4
Bouzarovski, S. (2015). Retrofitting the city: Residential flexibility, resilience and the built environment. I.B. Tauris.
Brown, D. L., Glasgow, N., Kulcsar, L. J., Sanders, S., & Thiede, B. C. (2019). The multi-scalar organization of aging-related services in US rural places. Journal of Rural Studies, 68(December 2017), 219–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.09.010
Bujang, M. A., Omar, E. D., Foo, D. H. P., & Hon, Y. K. (2024). Sample size determination for conducting a pilot study to assess reliability of a questionnaire. Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, 49(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2024.49.e3
Chen, Y., & Zhang, J. (2022). Extraction of Urban Built-Up Areas Based on Data Fusion: A Case Study of Zhengzhou, China. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi11100521
Croucher, K., Hicks, L., & Jackson, K. (2006). Housing with Care for Later Life: A literature review. Water, 142 pp ST-Housing with care for later life-a. http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/73179/
Goldsmith, S. (1967). Designing for the Disabled. RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London W1, England.
Guo Ru, Xinyu, D., Linjing, L., Xiaojing, C., & Ling, C. (2022). Research Progress on Assessment of Sustainable Development Goals and the Practices of China. Ecological Economy, 38(1), 211–217.
Hamid, T. (2015). Population ageing in Malaysia: A mosaic of issues, challenges and prospects. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.
van Hoof, J., & Marston, H. R. (2021). Age-friendly cities and communities: State of the art and future perspectives. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041644
Ismail, H., Muhamad Halil, F., Zainan Abidin, A. W., & Hasim, M. S. (2020). The Elderly (Senior) Housing Preferences among Generations in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 5(13), 145. https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2102
Ismail, H., Nordin, M. S. A., & Zainan Abidin, A. W. (2020). The Elderly-Friendly Housing Design Features Preferences by Generations in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 5(15), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i15.2510
Jarzebski, M. P., Elmqvist, T., Gasparatos, A., Fukushi, K., Eckersten, S., Haase, D., Goodness, J., Khoshkar, S., Saito, O., Takeuchi, K., Theorell, T., Dong, N., Kasuga, F., Watanabe, R., Sioen, G. B., Yokohari, M., & Pu, J. (2021). Ageing and population shrinking: implications for sustainability in the urban century. Npj Urban Sustainability, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-021-00023-z
Kemperman, A., & Timmermans, H. (2014). Green spaces in the direct living environment and social contacts of the aging population. Landscape and Urban Planning, 129, 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.05.003
Long, P. (2019). Research on the Renovation of Existing Buildings into Community Old-age Facilities (Master’s thesis, South China University of Technology). https://doi.org/10.27151/d.cnki.ghnlu.2019.002825
Mohd Yusof, N., & Mat Yasin, S. (2023). An Inclusive Community for Ageing in Place: A Conceptual Paper. Journal of Administrative Science, 20(Special Issue), 40–48.
Mulliner, E., Riley, M., & Maliene, V. (2020). Older people’s preferences for housing and environment characteristics. Sustainability, 12(14), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145723
Peng, Y., Cheng, Z., Fu, P., Gao, L., Cai, X., & Jiang, Y. (2022). A Study on the Elderly-Orientation of Urban Public Space. OALib, 09(12), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1109616
Perneger, T. V., Courvoisier, D. S., Hudelson, P. M., & Gayet-Ageron, A. (2015). Sample size for pre-tests of questionnaires. Quality of Life Research, 24(1), 147–151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0752-2
Piaw, C. Y. (2016). Mastering Research Methods 2nd Edition. August, 789675.
Preiser, W. F. E., & Smith, K. H. (2011). Universal design handbook. McGraw-Hill.
Ralston, M. (2018). The Role of Older Persons’ Environment in Aging Well: Quality of Life, Illness, and Community Context in South Africa. Gerontologist, 58(1), 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnx091
Salmistu, S., & Kotval, Z. (2023). Spatial interventions and built environment features in developing age-friendly communities from the perspective of urban planning and design. Cities, 141(July), 104417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2023.104417
Shao, C., Sihan, C., Junli, G., Yu, H., & Hailin, Z. (2021). Design of China’s sustainable development evaluation index system based on the SDGs. China Population，resources and Environment, 31(4). https://doi.org/10． 12062 /cpre． 20201027
Shrestha, N. (2021). Factor Analysis as a Tool for Survey Analysis. American Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 9(1), 4–11. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajams-9-1-2
Taherdoost, H. (2021). Data Collection Methods and Tools for Research; A Step-by-Step Guide to Choose Data Collection Technique for Academic and Business Research Projects. International Journal of Academic Research in Management (IJARM), 2021(1), 10–38. https://hal.science/hal-03741847
Tine, B., Phillipson, C., & Rémillard-Boilard, S. (2020). Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: New Directions for Research and Policy. In Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging (Issue September, pp. 5–7). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2
Tobi, S. U. M., Fathi, M. S., & Amaratunga, D. (2018). Ageing in place framework as reference guide for housing in Malaysia: Landed property. Planning Malaysia, 16(1), 130–143. https://doi.org/10.21837/pmjournal.v16.i5.417
UNESA. (2015). THE 17 GOALS. Sustainable Development. In Department of Economic and Social Affairs | Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
United Nations (UN). (2024). World Population Prospects 2024. In United Nation (Issue 9). www.un.org/development/ desa/pd/.
van Hoof, J., Marston, H. R., Kazak, J. K., & Buffel, T. (2021). Ten questions concerning age-friendly cities and communities and the built environment. Building and Environment, 199(April), 107922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107922
van Teijlingen, E., & Hundley, V. (2002). The importance of pilot studies. Nursing Standard, 16(40), 33–36. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns2002.06.16.40.33.c3214
Wadu Mesthrige, J., & Cheung, S. L. (2020). Critical evaluation of “ageing in place” in redeveloped public rental housing estates in Hong Kong. Ageing and Society, 40(9), 2006–2039. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X19000448
World Health Organization. (2007). Global age-friendly cities: A guide. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf
World Health Organization. (2018). WHO Housing and health guidelines. http://www.who.int/phe%0Ahttp://apps.who.int/bookorders.
Yanmin, Z., & Xiaoyi, F. (2023). Elderly-Oriented Design of Four Types of Important Spaces in the Outdoor Environment of Elderly Care Facilities: Based on the Activities and Requirements of Users. China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House, 65–71.
Zhou, Q., Dong, Z. F., Wu, Y., Ge, C. Z., & Li, H. X. (2019). The status and countermeasures for China’s achievement of the 2030 sustainable development goals. Chin. J. Environ. Manag., 11, 23 – 28. https://doi.org/10.16868/j.cnki.1674-6252.2019.01.023
