For the well-being of the elderly in Guangzhou - An alternative lifestyle

Abstract

China has become an aging society whilst still undergoing the processes of both industrialization and urbanization. The elderly population has increased so rapidly, social and economic policies haven't had the time to catch up, resulting in the current situation of an unpleasant living environment for a great number of elderly people. The connection people have both amongst others and between their living environment is weakening. And this situation is having a greater impact on those retired in a negative way. As a result, regardless of if they are aging in place or living in a rest home, elderly people are increasingly suffering from loneliness and social isolation. There is a need to re-examine the problems in the current living environments of many elderly people, this is of particular interest due to the sheer volume and rapid growth of China's aged population. Starting with an analysis into both the current situation and of trends in Guangzhou's aged population, together with local case studies, the existing problems with both aging in place and the design of rest homes from physical and psychological perspectives were examined. The proposed project explores the role architecture plays in rebuilding connections between the people and their community. It also looks at how architecture can be useful in building healthier relationships amongst neighbours and how this can have a positive impact on the elderly. From a physical perspective, the proposed project investigates the potential application of an elderly-orientated design in an aging community, through universal access to barrier-free design, and by functional integration with the neighbourhoods existing resources. From a psychological perspective, the proposed project investigates how relationships both amongst neighbours and between people and their communities can be redefined through architectural intervention and how this can positively influence the mental health of elderly residents. It is acknowledged that there are still many social, economic and miscellaneous factors that cannot be covered in this thesis. Nevertheless, the thesis aims to draw attention to the living environment of the elderly in a way which not only includes, but looks deeper than the commonly explored facets of the facilities, infrastructure and services available to them. While this thesis is mainly focused on the aged population in Guangzhou, the goal is that the ideas put forward can contribute to the improvement of the overall living environment of the elderly population in China.