Mediating the Brief: Reconceptualising Typology for New Zealand's Ageing Population

<p>New Zealand, like much of the developed world, has an ageing population. This fact is accompanied by evidence which shows that people’s life spans are also increasing (WHO 6). As the population continues to age, housing facilities for older New Zealanders are going to become more visible and more important. With huge growth looming for this housing sector questions are surfacing over the capacity for existing elderly housing typologies to allow residents to age positively. Positive ageing is judged by the state of someone’s physical, social and mental well-being (WHO 12). The field of architecture has an opportunity to play an active role in transforming the typology of elderly housing facilities, to make a new living environment that feels like an enjoyable place to be housed during a person’s later years. This thesis develops a position on the current state of living options for the elderly and the effect they have on the well-being of residents. The findings and insights drawn from literature and case study analysis help to determine a suitable direction for the future design of elderly housing typologies. This is tested through a design-based project. The outcome of this research finds that elderly housing typologies require a change in theme from segregation to integration. In response, the design project proposes a multigenerational housing environment in close proximity to a high number of leisure, health, educational, cultural and voluntary amenities to ensure elderly people can remain independent longer and continue to be active citizens within the community. The project supports strong links with the community through the use of a semi-public external courtyard space which provides significant interface between the elderly and members of the wider community, making it an effective mechanism for integration. The design of interior living environments aims to provide more flexibility to the living unit over time and enhance opportunities for casual social interaction to take place. Overall the research suggests that a living environment for elderly people which is well integrated into the community and provides opportunities for casual social interaction will help reduce problems associated with ageing and ultimately contribute to the elderly living a better quality of life.</p>

Mediating the Brief: Reconceptualising Typology for New Zealand's Ageing Population

<p>New Zealand, like much of the developed world, has an ageing population. This fact is accompanied by evidence which shows that people’s life spans are also increasing (WHO 6). As the population continues to age, housing facilities for older New Zealanders are going to become more visible and more important. With huge growth looming for this housing sector questions are surfacing over the capacity for existing elderly housing typologies to allow residents to age positively. Positive ageing is judged by the state of someone’s physical, social and mental well-being (WHO 12). The field of architecture has an opportunity to play an active role in transforming the typology of elderly housing facilities, to make a new living environment that feels like an enjoyable place to be housed during a person’s later years. This thesis develops a position on the current state of living options for the elderly and the effect they have on the well-being of residents. The findings and insights drawn from literature and case study analysis help to determine a suitable direction for the future design of elderly housing typologies. This is tested through a design-based project. The outcome of this research finds that elderly housing typologies require a change in theme from segregation to integration. In response, the design project proposes a multigenerational housing environment in close proximity to a high number of leisure, health, educational, cultural and voluntary amenities to ensure elderly people can remain independent longer and continue to be active citizens within the community. The project supports strong links with the community through the use of a semi-public external courtyard space which provides significant interface between the elderly and members of the wider community, making it an effective mechanism for integration. The design of interior living environments aims to provide more flexibility to the living unit over time and enhance opportunities for casual social interaction to take place. Overall the research suggests that a living environment for elderly people which is well integrated into the community and provides opportunities for casual social interaction will help reduce problems associated with ageing and ultimately contribute to the elderly living a better quality of life.</p>

Provision and related factors of end-of-life care in elderly housing with care services in collaboration with home-visiting nurse agencies: a nationwide survey

Background Japan has the largest population of older adults in the world; it is only growing as life expectancy increases worldwide. As such, solutions to potential obstacles must be studied to maintain healthy, productive lives for older adults. In 2011, the Japanese government has started a policy to increase “Elderly Housing with Care Services (EHCS)”, which is one of a private rental housing, as a place where safe and secure end-of-life care can be provided. The government expect for them to provide end-of-life care by collaborating with the Home-Visit Nursing Agencies (HVNA). The purpose of this study is to clarify the situation of the end-of-life care provision in EHCS in collaboration with HVNA and to examine the factors that associate with the provision of the end-of-life care in EHCS. Methods A two-stage nationwide survey (fax and mail surveys) were conducted. Of the 5,172 HVNA of the National Association for Visiting Nurse Services members, members from 359 agencies visited EHCS. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with the provision of end-of-life care to EHCS in 2017 as the dependent variable, and the following as independent variables: characteristics of HVNA and EHCS; characteristics of residents; collaborations between HVNA and EHCS; and the reasons for starting home-visit nursing. Results Of the 342 HVNA who responded to the collaborations with EHCS, 21.6% provided end-of-life care. The following factors were significantly associated with the provision of end-of-life care to inmates in elderly care facilities: being affiliated with a HVNA, admitting many residents using long-term care insurance, collaborating with each other for more than three years, and started visiting-nurse services after being requested by a resident’s physician. Conclusions This study clarified the situation of the provision of end-of-life care in EHCS in collaboration with HVNA and the related factors that help in providing end-of-life care in EHCS.

Use of Robotic Pet in a Distributed Layout Elderly Housing with Services: A Case Study on Elderly People with Cognitive Impairment

In recent years, robotic pets have been used by many countries worldwide as a method for treating behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The seal robot PARO was loaned intermittently to a distributed layout elderly housing with services over a seven-month period, during which it was observed that three residents with cognitive dysfunctions showed improvements in their BPSD and the nursing care load of the staff was reduced during the periods when PARO was present. The objective of this study is to investigate, through a case study, the effects of intermittent interaction with PARO on those with cognitive dysfunctions and the staff workers. The short version of the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBD-13) was used as the medical outcome index, and the KJ method was used to analyze the qualitative data, such as staff reports and interviews. The results show that the DBD-13 total scores reduced during the periods when PARO was present and increased during the periods when PARO was absent. The KJ method yielded similar findings. The use of DBD-13 and the KJ method complemented the results of each other and increased the persuasive power of the findings. By using the KJ method, it was further determined that the workload of the staff was reduced, allowing them to recuperate, which reconfirmed the value of PARO. Further case studies will be undertaken in the future with the aim of constructing a methodology for implementing case studies.

The planning of smart elderly housing in Dubai with IoT technologies

Purpose This paper aims to optimize the smart elderly housing planning with IoT (internet of things) technologies for an aging society in Dubai. To reflect the IoT technologies in the elderly housing, the characteristics of the IoT home network devices, applied to Ajman University (AU) testbed and smart services model with the IoT technologies are thoroughly analyzed. Design/methodology/approach To extract the optimal smart elderly housing model in Dubai, the Korean smart home model from smart cities in Korea was used to implement the testbed at AU. In total, 100 users survey had been performed to adjust the Korean model to local culture/context. Findings It was analyzed that convenience and functionality are factors that must be provided. The security system was pointed out as a common denominator for future enhancements. When IoT technologies are applied to elderly housing, it should focus on the safety and health management of the elderly. Social implications Dubai had announced a strategy to transform into a Smart City in 2014 and the strategy had included 100 initiatives. The base unit of smart homes, however, was not covered and furthermore as society grows older, the priority for IoT technologies application in the smart home should be focused on smart elderly housing, as the elderly is equivalent to the handicapped due to deteriorated physical abilities. Originality/value The characteristics of the IoT home network devices applied to the AU testbed and smart services model with the IoT technologies are thoroughly analyzed.

Determinants of Bedroom Design in Elderly Housing

The study aimed to know the factors contributing to the design of a bedroom in elderly housing. Sixty elderly women in the age of sixty and above who were able to perform their daily tasks independently were chosen for the study. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to draw the sample from the randomly selected study locations. Ex post facto research design was adopted for the study. The area selected to conduct the study was Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The study was conducted in the year 2019-2020.The design guidelines for bedroom in elderly housing proposed by various organizations and authors served as a base for identifying the features to measure the existing bedroom in the elderly houses. An interview cum observation schedule was designed for collecting information about the existing bedroom in elderly houses. The elderly houses were physically observed by the researcher. The existing bedroom features were measured in terms of above the recommended guidelines, exactly as per the recommended guidelines, below the recommended guidelines with scores 3,2 and 1 respectively. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for the existing bedroom features. Analysis of Variance was done to find out the relationship between independent and dependent variables of the study and Regression analysis was performed to know the factors contributing towards bedroom design. The clearance spaces in the bedroom between was found to be satisfactory in slightly more than half of the study sample. The Significant mean difference was found between the existing bedroom and (i)type of house and (ii)family income. The two major variables that contributed to designing a bedroom as per the design guidelines were the ‘Type of the house’ followed by ‘Family income’ of the elderly people.

Designing Staircase for Age-Friendly Housing

Aim: The study aimed to design a staircase for age-friendly housing by discovering the gap between existing staircase design and requirements of the elderly people. Sample: Sixty elderly women in the age of sixty and above who were living independently in a separate house was the criteria for the selection of sample. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to draw the sample. Study Design: Ex post facto research design was adopted for the study. Place and Duration of Study: The area selected to conduct the study were the Kurnool and Nandyal towns of Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. The study was conducted in the year 2019-2020. Methodology: The design recommendations for staircase in elderly housing proposed by various researchers served as yardstick to identify the existing staircase features in the elderly houses. An interview cum observation schedule was developed for gathering information about the existing staircase features in elderly houses. The elderly houses were physically observed by the investigator. The existing staircase features were measured in terms of above the recommendations, exactly as per the recommendations and below the recommendations with scores of 3,2 and 1 respectively. The elderly people were asked to express their requirements for staircase design in terms of essential, preferred and neutral with scores of 3,2,1 respectively. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for the existing staircase and requirements of elderly houses. Chi square analysis was performed to find out the relationship between existing staircase features and requirements of the elderly people. Taking into consideration of the elderly people requirements, staircase design was developed. Results and Conclusion: The design of handrails, risers and treads of staircase was not found as per the recommendations in most of the houses. Staircase with wider treads and lower risers were the features felt essential in designing a staircase by most of the elderly people. Staircase that facilitates safety and easy use was designed for the elderly housing as per the recommendations.

Ageing in Place or Late Life Move?. The Malaysian elderly generation housing options

The elderly generation is distinctive, and this reflects their housing preferences. This study aims to offer an outline of the Malaysian generational elderly housing preferences. The main objectives of this study; (i) To define elderly; (ii) To classify the features of elderly housing preferences; and (iii) To ascertain the elderly housing preferences by generations. This study applies mixed-method strategy and shown; (i) Health; (ii) Safety; (iii) Convenience; (iv) Community; and (v) Amenity as the preferred elderly housing features. This study guides the main actors of property development on the preferred elderly housing by the Malaysian generations.Keywords: Ageing in Place; Generations, Elderly (Senior) housing; Residential Environment PreferenceseISSN 2398-4295 ©2020 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21834/ajbes.v5i18.185