The Actual Demand for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers among Senior Citizens in Poland

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to determine the actual demand for the elimination of architectural barriers among senior citizens in their place of residence and also in its immediate environment in Poland. The research covered a group of people in the post-productive age, living in the Lower Silesia voivodship in Poland. Different research methods were used in the study, primarily including the public opinion survey based on a questionnaire as well as statistical analyses. The cross-tabulation analysis of differences in quality characteristics was performed using Pearson’s chi-square test (χ2 test of independence) or Fisher’s exact test, when the expected number was lower than five. As a post hoc analysis, checking the nature of differences between the studied groups, the analyses were carried out using the method by Baesley and Schumacker. For all analyses, the maximum permissible error class I α = 0.05 was adopted, whereas p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The research revealed that a much larger group of people aged 55 and older suffers from mobility limitations than the ones resulting from disability certificates, thus confirming the assumption that along with the respondents’ age, their mobility limitations intensify, resulting in the need for assistance while moving outside their houses/apartments.

A Customized Decision Support System for Renewable Energy Application by Housing Association

“…Therefore, the assessment could be incomplete and a lack of this data could represent a further limitation and necessity for the development of the model. The renewable energy applications by housing associations could also be relevant in other research, as in the context of energy poverty, vulnerable groups to energy poverty (impoverished people or ageing society) [28,62], spatial management [36], and comprehensive environmental management system [63,64].…”

Demand for a Housing Offer Addressed to Senior Citizens in Poland

“…The analyses carried out by Kurtyka-Marcak et al [12] and covering a similar group of respondents in terms of the demand for services in the immediate vicinity revealed that all the respondents, regardless of age and place of residence, indicated the need for a health centre in their close surroundings. The same was true for a grocery store (95% on average in each age group), a public transport stop (approx.…”

“…The current state housing policy, addressed to senior citizens, allows adapting an apartment to age-related mobility limitations, as long as the person has a disability certificate. Activities focused on eliminating architectural barriers in seniors’ place of residence are particularly important in the context of improving their quality of life and independence [11,12]. The elderly, uncared for by their families, have nursing homes at their disposal in Poland, as long as they can afford to live in such institutions (i.e., receive a pension covering the costs of their stay).…”

“…The research motive was the analysis carried out by Hełdak et al [4] on the elimination of architectural and technical barriers in Poland, as well as the studies conducted by Kurtyka-Marcak et al [12] covering the actual demand for construction works and changes in interior design aimed at eliminating mobility limitations of retirement-age people. As established, this social group rarely applies for the disability status, and the actual demand does not correspond to the number of people holding a disability certificate.…”

Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment

“…The interaction between the different 'players' in the field-the patients, clients, end-users, designers and formal and informal carers and other (allied) health professionals-and the physical, social, and digital environment is complex. This complexity, which is reflected in the differences in stakeholder needs, has its implications on the design of technology and buildings, as well as the environment around us [24][25][26][27][28][29]. Former research has shown that the relationship between human behaviour and the environment is not only country-, continent-, or culture-specific, but also age-, purpose-, and behaviour specific.…”