Research of assisted housing design for the bedridden elderly and their family caregivers

Abstract

To explore the housing design strategies based on the needs of the bedridden elderly and their family caregivers to promote the health of the bedridden elderly and reduce the stress of family caregiving. A descriptive qualitative study, grounded in phenomenological principles, was undertaken to investigate the experiences of 24 bedridden elderly individuals and their respective 24 family caregivers. The interviews were semi-structured and supplemented by non-participant observations. The needs of the bedridden elderly and their family caregivers for the housing environment were mainly focused on safety guarantee, health promotion, and care assistance. Challenges such as spatial barriers, poor environmental quality, and insufficient adaptability in housing components and aids can greatly reduce the assisted role of housing. This paper emphasizes the importance of tailoring housing design to the specific physical characteristics, sensory needs, and behavioral habits of the bedridden elderly and their family caregivers. Effective layout and design should consider spatial flow, control and regulation of the physical environment, and the careful selection and configuration of accessories and aids.