First of all, aging-friendly refers to enabling the elderly to live independently, safely, and comfortably in their own communities or homes through appropriate renovations and services. This lifestyle allows the elderly to live in their own homes or communities for a longer period without having to move to nursing homes or other care facilities.
Aging-friendly is a concept proposed to address the need for care and support for the elderly in an aging society. It aims to provide more services suitable for the elderly, such as housing, healthcare, social interactions, and cultural activities, to meet their needs while improving their quality of life. Additionally, aging-friendly helps alleviate the pressure on nursing homes and medical institutions, reduces the elderly’s care costs, and promotes the sustainable development of society and the economy.
Next, aging-friendly renovation refers to moderately renovating the living environment of the elderly to adapt to their living needs and health conditions, thereby enhancing their quality of life and safety.
The main purpose of aging-friendly renovation is to make it more convenient for the elderly to carry out daily activities, such as entering and exiting their homes more easily, using kitchens and bathrooms, going up and down stairs, opening doors and windows, and so on. The content of aging-friendly renovation includes but is not limited to the following aspects:
- Adding safety facilities: such as installing anti-slip floors, handrails and guardrails, replacing safety doors and windows, etc.
- Adjusting spatial layout: such as adding platform elevators, raising kitchen countertops, widening doorways, etc.
- Providing convenient facilities: such as installing intelligent access control systems, equipping anti-slip bath mats, adding handrails, etc.
Aging-friendly renovation requires personalized design and construction based on the specific conditions and needs of the elderly. It enables the elderly to live in their own homes more safely and comfortably, reduces the occurrence of accidents, and at the same time improves their quality of life and sense of well-being.