Assessment of and Improvement Strategies for the Housing of Healthy Elderly: Improving Quality of Life

Abstract

Global population is aging, particularly in developed countries and cities. Through the "Friendly Elderly Cities" and "Aging in Place" initiatives, various countries are making great efforts to improve the welfare and quality of life of the elderly, with the aim of catering to the physical and spiritual health as well as social welfare of the elderly. In this regard, the improvement of the housing environment of the elderly is one of the key factors in their quality of life and health. This study aims to effectively assess and improve the housing environment of the elderly in order to enhance their quality of life; it also aims to contribute the knowledge about improving elderly housing by applying an assessment framework using expert interviews and data collected from relevant literature. Using a mixed Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis model, a combination of the DEMATEL (Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory)-based ANP (Analytic Network Process) (DANP) and the modified VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods, and the investigations and assessments in the case study, this study proposes strategies and directions for improving elderly housing. The study results indicate that, as distinct from using traditional methodologies where the hypothesis criteria are mutually independent, the proposed hybrid model (examining real-life problems by considering the mutual influences of factors) identifies a priority sequence wherein emphasis is placed on improving ventilation and air quality rather than adjustment of temperature. The systemic way of thinking shifts the focus from the most apparent problems to the root cause of the problems. Doing so avoids any mismatch of resource allocation in decision-making and thus maximizes the efficiency and sustainability of the improvement.

Impacts of Leisure and Tourism on the Elderly’s Quality of Life in Intimacy: A Comparative Study in Japan

“…How to improve the QOL of disadvantaged groups is essential for regional development, which needs further studies. Furthermore, it is necessary to examine effects of various policies, e.g., care centers for elders [99], smart technologies for supporting the elderly's life [100], social inclusion policies [101,102], integrated transport and health policy [103], housing policy [104] and land use policy [105] on the improvement of the elderly's QOL.…”

Reform of Chinese Universities in the Context of Sustainable Development: Teacher Evaluation and Improvement Based on Hybrid Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Model

“…The INRD established by the DANP method can help to form decision-making equations for various systemic plans to improve alternative/objective performance after evaluation [55]. Based on this advantage, the method has been applied in many areas, such as public open space development [56], creative communities [57], quality of life [58], supplier management [59], airline performance [60], green buildings [61], and international airports [62]. The detailed steps in the DANP calculation are as follows.…”

Physical Attributes of Housing and Elderly Health: A New Dynamic Perspective

“…In addition, the effects of housing improvements on health [31], which could be of value to policymakers and housing providers, have rarely been examined. The current research has been focused on the influence of housing improvements on psychological well-being, levels of satisfaction [32], and quality of life [1]. Further studies on housing and elderly health using longitudinal survey data are strongly urged [9,33].…”

“…Housing can significantly affect the health of the elderly, as in its broader sense, housing is not simply shelter but also valuable wealth, and it is socially linked to individuals' wellbeing. The daily activities of the elderly are also predominantly conducted in the home, and people may have a strong emotional attachment to the house in which they have lived for many years [1]. Housing also serves as a platform for achieving a favorable living environment and service outcomes, and it thus can improve the independence and health of the elderly [2].…”

“…Its correlation goes far beyond assessing health-related physical hazards and accident prevention, and it involves the interaction between elderly competence and housing [8]. Housing that is beneficial to health not only increases the safety and comfort of the dwelling but also improves various living and utility functions in the daily life of the aging [1]. Most of the extensive studies related to housing and its health impacts on older people have focused on the effects of housing on falls [9], mobility [5], or mental health [10]: few have provided overall assessments of functional capacity [2].…”