Understanding the Spatial Requirements that Facilitate Personal Leisure Activities of the High-Needs Elderly

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.

Nexus between the participation of residents in house design and residential satisfaction in Akure, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between residents＇ level of participation in house design and level of residential satisfaction in Akure, Nigeria. The study was based on the idea that the goal of housing projects is to provide satisfactory environments for users. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 304 household heads in transitional and peripheral zones of the city. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions and observations. The obtained data were subsequently subjected to single-factor descriptive analysis, mean satisfaction scoring, and categorical regression analysis. Results showed a positive significant relationship between the level of resident participation in house design and the level of residential satisfaction. The significant participatory predictors of satisfaction were number of bedrooms, general house design, development of the brief for the design, arrangement of interior spaces, and selection of finishing materials. Space size and building materials were not significant predictors in this context. The obtained p-value of 0.000 indicated that the regression model was significant. This study recommends a high level of resident participation in house design to achieve a high level of residential housing satisfaction in Nigeria.