Enhancing Quality of Life of Elders in Public and Subsidized Housing in Hong Kong through a Facility Management Model

Although the birth rate in Hong Kong (HK) ranks among the world’s lowest, life expectancy is among the highest. The proportion of elders in HK is thus increasing and has been projected to reach 24% of the total population by 2031. To tackle the increasing housing demands of the elders, the HK government has focused on a pilot scheme for elderly housing (HKSAR 2010). Nonetheless, among the 1,129,900 elders in HK, more than 50% are currently living in public and subsidized (P/S) housing (Census and Statistics Dept, 2009) with relatively insufficient facilities, and probably without adequate facility support for the elders. The dilapidated housing of the elders implies a poor Quality of Life (QoL), which associates with health and safety problems.The physical environment we live in is a recognized dimension of QoL (World Health Organization QoL Assessment [WHOQOL] Group 1998a), and is likely to be particularly important for domestic elders. Because of limitations in health and mobility, elders spend most of their time at home and depend on facilities and facility management (FM) to compensate for their physical and biological problems, and also to maintain their psychological well-being. ‘Providing purpose-designed housing for elders’ is one of the objectives initiated by the HK Chief Executive in his recent Policy Address (HKSAR 2011). Although the HK government has published the Universal Design Guidebook for residential development in HK (HKHS 2010a), there has been no focus on an integrated FM study covering the construction, social, and psychological disciplines for elderly housing.The literature on FM, caring environmental design, post-occupancy evaluation, building maintenance, and QoL for adults and the elders is extensive, but a study integrating all these aspects for the elders is lacking. The purpose of this research is to enhance the QoL of elders in P/S housing through FM. The objectives are: (1) to factorize FM components in P/S housing and QoL indicators for the elders; (2) to establish FM?QoL relationships for the elders in P/S housing; (3) to develop an integrated FM?QoL model; (4) to verify the model using longitudinal real cases; and (5) to suggest FM guidelines for enhancing the QoL of elders in P/S housing. It is envisaged that the study results will promote the development of a proactive assessment of FM in P/S housing, and enhance the QoL of elders in private housing in the future by disseminating the results to practitioners in the industry.