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Effect of facilities management components on the quality of life of Chinese elderly in care and attention homes

Mei-yung Leung (Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong)
Ibukun Oluwadara Famakin (Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong)
Paul Olomolaiye (Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK)

Facilities

ISSN: 0263-2772

Publication date: 4 April 2017

Abstract

Purpose

Quality of life (QoL) for elderly residents of care and attention (C&A) homes has become an important consideration, given the increasingly aging population. Due to the number of hours such residents spend indoors, the quality of the facilities can contribute to their day-to-day QoL. This study aims to investigate the effect of facilities management (FM) on the QoL of Chinese elderly people living in C&A homes.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of perceived satisfaction with the components of FM and QoL was carried out with a sample of residents. A total of 18 FM components and five QoL domains, including physical health, independence, psychological health, social relationships and living environment, as well as overall QoL, were identified.

Findings

The findings show that physical health is influenced by accessibility, doors and windows and signage; independence can be improved by enhancing accessibility, water supply, lighting and ventilation; accessibility, water supply, distance and doors and windows all predict psychological health; social relationships are improved by lighting and ventilation; distance impacts positively on the living environment; and overall QoL is predicted by lighting, ventilation, accessibility, doors and windows, handrails, recreation and signage.

Originality/value

The study recommends that designers and facilities managers review the micro-climate settings to harness available natural lighting and ventilation, introduce bimetallic strips to the heating systems to maintain a suitable water temperature and install large, easy-to-understand and graphic signage for straightforward wayfinding in C&A homes.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.: CityU 115210).

Citation

Leung, M.-y., Famakin, I.O. and Olomolaiye, P. (2017), "Effect of facilities management components on the quality of life of Chinese elderly in care and attention homes", Facilities, Vol. 35 No. 5/6, pp. 270-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-03-2016-0032

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Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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