No abstract

No abstract

Abstract:As the population ages, the demand for suitable rental housing will increase. Suitable housing means housing that can accommodate those impairments that typically correspond with ageing. This paper explores the quality of life (QoL) requirements of those elderly with high-care needs who live in rental housing. Using a qualitative case study approach, it examines the living experiences of six elderly people who need assistance and are living in local-authority rental housing in New Zealand. The themes of QoL were identified from the literature and related to the larger themes of; 1. Activities and independence, 2. Sense of control, 3. Privacy, 4. Relationships, 5. Quality of care, and 6. Comfort. The survey consisted of a detailed documentation of the physical environment, followed by interviews with and full-day observations of the residents and their caregivers. The study finds that the design of housing that improves their QoL requires solutions to accommodate the various conflicting needs for their QoL that include those derived from the diversity in the user's preferences and impairments. In the design of rental housing, there is greater need for additional or reorganized space to accommodate caregivers and visitors, maintain residents' independence, privacy, and other aspects important for their QoL.

No abstract

The growth of the ageing population and the desires for ageing-in-place have resulted in an ever-increasing need for housing that can support the independent living of the elderly with care needs. As impairments and care needs increase, spatial use typically changes. However, there is limited information on how to accommodate leisure activities and spatial use in private dwellings to inform housing design. Through an ethnographic investigation of 30 high-needs elderly people living independently, patterns of spatial use for personal leisure activities were established. Seven key themes for residents’ perceptions were revealed, which include; comfort in posture, access to sunshine and warmth, facilitating activities to occupy residents, views to outside, control for doing everything from one space, and keeping active. In the design of housing for the high-needs elderly, greater attention should be given to the micro-environment of the main sitting space, to improve occupant control while enhancing comfort and warmth. This paper provides key considerations for housing design, which will help elderly people continue their fulfilled life in their own home as long as possible.