Impact of indoor facilities management on the quality of life of the elderly in public housing

Facilities ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 564-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Jingyu Yu ◽  
Hoyan Chow

Purpose The aging population is growing rapidly, causing significant increases in the demand for public housing. Normally, the elderly rely heavily on the facilities available in their living environment to maintain their quality of life (QoL). However, most public housing is not purposely designed for the elderly, and, thus, has inappropriate facilities, which often have a negative impact upon the physical and psychological health of residents. This paper aims to investigate the relationships between the indoor facilities management (FM) of public housing and the QoL of elderly persons. Design/methodology/approach Based on an extensive literature review, a questionnaire has been designed and distributed among elderly residents of different public housing buildings. To investigate the impact of indoor FM on the QoL of the senior residents in public housing, statistical analysis methods including reliability analysis and multiple regression modeling were adopted. Findings The study identified 12 indoor FM factors and six QoL domains (i.e. overall QoL, physical and psychological health, independence, social relationship and living environment). The results also reveal that space planning and bathroom influence most QoL domains, including overall QoL, physical/psychological health, independence and living environment of the elderly; electricity and noise mainly affect physical health and independence, while noise is negatively related to elderly QoL; and supporting facilities (including windows and doors, indoor decoration, non-slip floors and accessibility) have a positive impact on psychological health and social relationships. Practical implications Based on the current findings, several practical recommendations are made for the designers and facilities managers, including wide corridors for individuals with wheelchairs, the installation of single-lever-type mixers to provide a stable hot water supply and a window designed to get as much natural light as possible. Originality/value This paper provides a clear picture about elderly special requirements on indoor FM and their QoL. It can assist architects, engineers and facilities managers in public housing to understand elderly needs and improve FM during design and operation stages for enhancing QoL of elderly residents in public housing buildings.

Facilities ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 270-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Ibukun Oluwadara Famakin ◽  
Paul Olomolaiye

Purpose Quality of life (QoL) for elderly residents of care and attention (C&A) homes has become an important consideration, given the increasingly aging population. Due to the number of hours such residents spend indoors, the quality of the facilities can contribute to their day-to-day QoL. This study aims to investigate the effect of facilities management (FM) on the QoL of Chinese elderly people living in C&A homes. Design/methodology/approach A survey of perceived satisfaction with the components of FM and QoL was carried out with a sample of residents. A total of 18 FM components and five QoL domains, including physical health, independence, psychological health, social relationships and living environment, as well as overall QoL, were identified. Findings The findings show that physical health is influenced by accessibility, doors and windows and signage; independence can be improved by enhancing accessibility, water supply, lighting and ventilation; accessibility, water supply, distance and doors and windows all predict psychological health; social relationships are improved by lighting and ventilation; distance impacts positively on the living environment; and overall QoL is predicted by lighting, ventilation, accessibility, doors and windows, handrails, recreation and signage. Originality/value The study recommends that designers and facilities managers review the micro-climate settings to harness available natural lighting and ventilation, introduce bimetallic strips to the heating systems to maintain a suitable water temperature and install large, easy-to-understand and graphic signage for straightforward wayfinding in C&A homes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
Tran Quynh Anh ◽  
Pham Thi Thu Trang ◽  
Do Vu Minh Ha

Caring for an aging population is an emerging public health problem, and the quality of life (QoL) among the elderly is a significant concern. Our study aimed to describe the health - related quality of life (HRQoL) and factors associated with good HRQoL among the elderly in three communes of Hanam province in Vietnam. A cross - sectional design was used with a sample size of 479 participants aged 60 and above. HRQoL was measured using the SF - 36. Comparison of characteristics between those with high HRQoL and those with low HRQoL was done using Pearson chi - square tests. Results were reported using descriptive statistics and odds ratios with 95% CI (Confidence Interval). Many of the elderly had moderate HRQoL (41.3%), and elderly men were more likely to have higher QoL in terms of physical health and psychological health than elderly women. Our findings also indicated that some factors including older age, low educational level, those not living with their spouse, poor financial condition, having more than two health problems and possessing unhealthy drinking behaviors were significantly positive associated with HRQoL. Findings suggest interventions are needed to improve the quality of life among the elderly in rural areas of Vietnam.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ozlem Koseoglu Ornek ◽  
Nurcan Kolac

Workaholism has been a growing issue among the labour force worldwide. However, there is no consensus between scholars about its definition yet. It might be described as “being overly concerned about work, driven by a strong and uncontrollable desire to work, and spending so much energy and effort on work that it impairs private relationships, personal hobbies/activities, and/or health”. Generally, people with specific personality traits may have an increased chance of developing workaholism. In addition, there are other factors, such as sociocultural characteristics, relationships with colleagues and significant others, and organizational culture might also play an important influence on developing workaholism. It causes many physical and psychological health problems, such as high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and family and lifestyle dissatisfaction, and a reduction in job satisfaction, presenteeism, and motivation. Putting all of this together, it is clear that workaholism has a negative influence on employees’ quality of life and overall well-being. Therefore, this study aimed at examining a variety of approaches to define “workaholism” in related literature, defining its etiology, related factors, outcomes, prevention, and treatment. The PubMed/Medline database was also used for related studies that were published in English. “Workaholism”, “obsessive–compulsive behavior”, and “quality of health” were used as keywords. It is crucial to take action to prevent people from becoming workaholics. Early diagnoses of workaholism, using predictive factors by occupational healthcare professionals in the workplace, would help decrease its impact on workers’ health, and an effective treatment of workaholism should be applied.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta de Miranda Henriques Freire ◽  
Nivaldo Carneiro Junior

Abstract Objective: To analyze Brazilian scientific production on housing for autonomous elderly persons. Method: A descriptive, analytical integrative review type study was carried out. The following guiding question was defined: what is the Brazilian scientific production relating to housing for autonomous elderly persons in indexed on-line periodicals from 2000 to 2015? Results: Thirty-three articles were identified in total, of which only 13 met the inclusion criterion. Using the Content Analysis technique, the following categories were formed: Modalities of housing for the elderly; Public housing policies for the elderly and Housing and quality of life. Conclusion: Most of the studies discussed types of housing for the elderly, falling into the category "Modalities of housing for the elderly", and identifying a tendency towards one-person dwellings. In relation to the category "Public housing policies for the elderly", the articles reflected on the rights and the guarantees of the elderly in relation to a suitable home. The "Housing and quality of life" category aimed to compare the quality of life of elderly people living alone or with a partner, as well as their perception of exclusive condominium developments for this population. There is a need for research on the issue in question, since there is an increase in the number of elderly people without housing, making it necessary for the state to meet this demand.


2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Ibukun Oluwadara Famakin ◽  
Chendi Wang

Purpose The growth rate of the aging population raises the demand for and challenges of public and subsidized (P&S) housing for the elderly. The decline in elderly ability increases their dependence on the quality of facilities provided by their residential apartment. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to develop an integrated indoor built environment–quality of life model for the elderly in P&S housing estates. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey, including scales for 4 quality of life (QoL) domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships and overall QoL), and 13 indoor built environment (BE) components were identified. In total, 365 survey data were collected from the elderly in 18 political districts of Hong Kong, while reliability analysis, multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling were adopted in the data analysis. Findings Based on the congruence of results of these statistical analyses, it was revealed that: furniture and fixtures predict all the four QoL domains of the elderly; lighting and color induce social relationships; and overall QoL is predicted by distance and handrails. Originality/value Several recommendations were made in accordance with the research results, such as review minimum spacing requirements to provide walking distance for elderly physical activity, investigate the micro-climate for appropriate building orientation, consider the changing body size of the elderly for supply of furniture, use warm colors with high levels of illumination, and so on.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 98-114
Author(s):  
Faramarz Samifanni ◽  
Rose Leslie R Gumanit

This study analyzed the content of YouTube news clips on elderly teachers concerning emergency online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using traditional content analysis, the included news videos were transcribed, interview segments were translated and familiarized, dominant words were identified, data were coded, categorized, and themed. Four dominant words were highlighted: online, students, teachers, and pandemic. Three themes on technical challenges and support needs, health issues, and resilience emerged in the analysis. Results show that elderly teachers are persistent to adapt to emergency online learning despite the struggles they are facing. The analysis also highlights the negative effects of the sudden shift to emergency online learning on the physical and psychological health of elderly teachers. Furthermore, the elderly teachers, are ensuring students’ access to education even at their own cost. Implications to the country’s quality of education and suggestions of providing better technical and psychological health support to elderly teachers were presented.


Author(s):  
Lokesh Kumar Ranjan ◽  
Pramod R Gupta ◽  
Nilesh Maruti Gujar ◽  
Shefali Baraik

Background: Hospital staff has been constant and at the forefront to provide treatment services to the patient with risk of COVID-19 infection. The fear and uncertainty forced by the COVID-19 pandemic have become a risk for physical and psychological health among health care professionals.Aim: To explore the stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life among hospital staff working in general and mental health hospitals during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The present survey was an online study among hospital staff in India. We received a total of 373 responses by the stipulated time from hospital staff - participants with written consent diverted for further study. Socio-demographic datasheet, quality of life (QOL- BREF), depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) were included in the Google form.Results: The results showed 2.4% of depression, 6.3% of anxiety, and 5.9% of stress among hospital staff. Nursing staff, physicians, and lab technicians had higher stress, anxiety, and depression. The result also revealed 4.3% physical, 16.6% psychological, 65.4% social, and 21.7% environmental health had a poor level of QOL in hospital staff.Conclusion: Healthcare workers are stressed, anxious, and depressive while working in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. To sustain and develop quality in healthcare services, physical and psychological wellness programs can enhance mental health and quality of life among hospital staff.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Montes Reula ◽  
Miguel Cañete Lairla ◽  
Jorge Navarro López ◽  
Carmelo Pelegrín Valero ◽  
José Galindo Ortiz de Landázuri ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to detect the most significant factors associated with each living alternative to improve socialization and mental health of the elderly. The measurements included affective evaluation, cognitive assessment, anxiety level, physical functionality, quality of life and social relationships. Individuals in home nursing residences were older and had worse affective status, functionality, cognitive state and quality of life. Social relationships in community people were better than in the institutionalized condition, particularly for less aged people. Design/methodology/approach Comparative descriptive study realized in 200 people older than 70 years in home nursing placement versus community dwelling conditions. Findings Multivariate analysis and logistic regression indicated that greater disability and poorer quality of social relationships were the main factors influencing the institutionalization process. Specifically, the Sociotype Questionnaire appeared as an efficient tool concerning the detection of social isolation effects as well as an acceptable integrator of prosocial information about home nursing placement. Originality/value The Geriatric Sociotype survey has shown usefulness in the evaluation of the social network of elderly people, both from the point of view of assessment and prognosis. In this sense it is considered that one of the main contributions of this study is to have included the qualitative evaluation of social relations, and to observe the differences according to the place of residence.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Affini Borsoi Tamai ◽  
Sergio Márcio Pacheco Paschoal ◽  
Julio Litvoc ◽  
Adriana Nunes Machado ◽  
Pedro Kallas Curiati ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effect on quality of life of elderly people enrolled in GAMIA – Multidisciplinary Care Group to Outpatient Elderly Subjects (Grupo de Assistência Multidisciplinar ao Idoso Ambulatorial) of the Geriatric Department, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Methods: Between 2000 and 2002, 83 elderly participants of GAMIA were assessed by the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-bref) at the beginning and the end of the program. Functionality was assessed by Katz and Lawton scales and sociodemographic data were obtained from medical charts. Results: Females predominated (79.5%) and overall mean age was 69.30 years. Data analysis showed a reduction in the physical domain of WHOQOL-bref (p = 0.014) and increased psychological health and environment domains (p = 0.029 and p = 0.007, respectively), detecting a trend of increase in social relationships and in general domains (p = 0.062 and p = 0.052, respectively). Conclusions: The clinical evaluation of the elderly detected previously unknown diseases and determination of the use of new drugs, which might have been the predominant factor for the deterioration of their perception in the physical domain. Improvement in psychological health and the environment can be related to psychological and social support that the elderly received from peers and professionals and the benefits of group activities, as well as the upward trend observed in social relationships and general domains. Participation in a program to promote healthy aging was effective in improving the quality of life of the elderly.


Facilities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 234-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Qi Liang ◽  
Jon Pynoos

PurposeThe world was facing significant aging challenges. Aging in place has long been advocated which reflected the preference of older people to stay in their own home as long as possible. A huge amount of older people resided in private buildings that consist of both indoor settings (i.e. individual unit flats) and outdoor settings (i.e. common areas like lobby and corridor). The effect of indoor environment on the quality of life of the older people has been investigated, while this paper aims to examine the different effect of common areas environment for the older people.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was administered among over 300 older people living in private buildings. Multiple statistical techniques, including reliability test, correlation coefficient and multiple regression models, were used to analyze the collected data to determine the interactions between facilities management of the common areas in private buildings and the environment domain of quality of life for older people.FindingsThe final results were concluded based on the congruence of all the statistical results, which covered the identification of facilities management factors in common areas of private buildings that could influence the environment domain of quality of life for older people, including overall environment, health-care accessibility, information acquisition and transportation aspects; the overall environment was positively predicted by space and security in common areas of private building; health-care accessibility was positively affected by space, barrier-free facilities and recreational facilities; the information acquisition was only positively predicted by security; transportation was positively predicted by distance and recreational facilities; and building services of common areas in private buildings had no effect on the environment domain of quality of life for older people.Originality/valuePractical recommendations have been made to improve the facilities management of common areas in private buildings to ensure the quality of life for older people, including provision of walking assistance, motion or infrared controlled systems and so on. This study contributed to enhance current understanding of the interactions between the older people and their living environment.


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