Design of urban and rural elderly care public areas integrating person-environment fit theory

1.1.1 POE theory

POE, proposed by Kurt Lewin, emphasizes the adaptive relationship between individuals and their environment. In this theory, an individual’s behavior, psychological state, and feelings of well-being are closely related to the environment in which he or she lives [12,13]. When an individual’s ability matches the demands of the environment, the individual is able to adapt better to the environment and show higher well-being and quality of life. Conversely, too much environmental pressure can lead to a decrease in the individual’s adaptive ability. For the elderly, POE theory pays special attention to how the elderly can find a comfortable lifestyle in the environment, especially whether the environment design meets the multiple demand relationship of physical, psychological, and social needs of the elderly, which can be expressed by a simple adaptability formula as shown in Eq. (1).

where A represents the adaptability of the elderly, C represents the individual abilities, P represents the environmental stress, and P represents the function of the relationship between adaptability, abilities, and stress. When C > P , the individual’s adaptability is high, which means that the elderly can easily cope with the requirements of the environment. However, when C < P , the adaptability decreases, indicating that the environmental pressure is too great for the elderly to cope with, and they are prone to maladaptive problems.

1.1.2 Aging-friendly design

Aging-friendly design refers to the full consideration of the physiological, psychological, and social needs of the elderly in the design of buildings, facilities, and environments, with the aim of providing a safer, more comfortable and convenient living environment for the elderly. As the global aging trend intensifies, aging-friendly design is becoming more and more important in the fields of urban planning, residential construction, and public space. Aging-friendly design usually includes elements such as barrier-free access, clear signage, comfortable seating, reasonable spatial layout, and adequate lighting. In addition, it emphasizes the ability of the environment to support the social activities of older adults, maintain their independence, and reduce the stress of the external environment on their physical and psychological well-being [14,15]. In this study, the core of aging-friendly design is to enhance the quality of life of older people through multi-level spatial and functional design, especially in the use of public areas, focusing on improving the safety, convenience, and social interaction of older people.

1.1.3 Common areas

Public areas refer to spaces that are available for use by members of the community at large and are not limited to personal or private activities. Public areas usually include community parks, streets, squares, cultural activity centers, and activity rooms for the elderly, which are indispensable places in the daily lives of residents [16,17]. For the elderly, public areas are important places for socialization, leisure, exercise, and participation in community activities. Reasonable design of public areas can greatly enhance the adaptability of older adults to their environment and make them more comfortable and safe in social interactions and physical activities. The aging-friendly design of public areas discussed in this study, especially in urban and rural retirement public areas, focuses on how to provide better living environments for older people by enhancing the functionality, accessibility, and psychological comfort of these spaces through multilevel design.

1.2.1 Analysis of elderly service data

According to statistical data from the Report on the Development of Elderly Care in Chengdu (2022) and the Report on the Development of Urban and Rural Infrastructure in Chengdu (2022) [18,19]. The distribution of elderly care institutions in Chengdu and the proportion of elderly people in different age groups in Chengdu from 2018 to 2023 are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Results of locality distribution and proportion of older people by age group. (a) Distribution of senior care facilities in Chengdu. (b) Ratio of elderly people by age group in Chengdu, 2018–2023.

Figure 1(a) shows the distribution of elderly care institutions in Chengdu, and Figure 1(b) gives the proportion of elderly people in various age groups in Chengdu from 2018 to 2023. From Figure 1(a), the results showed that elderly care institutions are mainly concentrated in central urban areas and their surrounding regions, which have more public service facilities and a higher density of elderly care institutions. In contrast, the distribution of senior care institutions is sparser in the combined urban and rural areas and in rural areas in particular, where the number and coverage of senior care institutions are obviously insufficient. This distribution pattern reflected the greater demand for elderly care services in the center of Chengdu, while the construction of elderly care facilities in the peripheral areas needs to be further strengthened. According to Figure 1(b), the proportion of elderly people aged 60–69 has been diminishing annually, from 55.51% in 2018 to 46.49% in 2022. The proportion of elderly population aged 70–79 and 80 and above is showing an upward trend. This change reflects the gradual intensification of the aging trend in Chengdu, and the demand for elderly care services has increased accordingly, especially for nursing and medical services for the elderly. The detailed breakdown is shown in Table 1.

From Table 1, senior care facilities in Chengdu City are mainly concentrated in the central urban area and the surrounding areas, while senior care facilities in the combined urban-rural areas and rural areas are relatively sparse. In terms of the proportion of the elderly population, the proportion of the 60–69-year-old group was the highest in 2018, with 55.51% in the central city. By 2019, the share of individuals aged 60–69 had declined, whereas the percentage of those aged 70–79 and 80 and above had risen, mirroring the aging process in Chengdu City, the expanding proportion of seniors, and the growing need for elderly care services.

1.2.2 Current status of greening and infrastructure

According to the 2022 Chengdu Urban and Rural Ecological Environment Construction Report, the green coverage rate in the central urban area of Chengdu has reached 42.73% [20]. According to the Annual Development Report on Urban and Rural Infrastructure in Chengdu (2022), the infrastructure completion rate in the central urban area of Chengdu has reached 84.92%. The current status of urban and rural greening and infrastructure in Chengdu is shown in Figure 2 [21].

Figure 2

Status of urban and rural greening and infrastructure in Chengdu. (a) Status of rural greening. (b) Status of greening in urban and rural areas. (c) Status of greening in urban neighborhoods. (d) Status of urban street greening. (e) Status of rural aging infrastructure. (f) Status of aging-friendly infrastructure in urban and rural areas. (g) Status of aging infrastructure in urban neighborhoods. (h) Status of aging infrastructure in urban streets.

Figure 2(a) shows the current situation of rural greening, Figure 2(b) gives the present situation of urban–rural integration greening, Figure 2(c) gives the present situation of urban community greening, Figure 2(d) gives the present situation of urban street greening, Figure 2(e) shows the present circumstances of aging-friendly infrastructure in rural areas, Figure 2(f) shows the present circumstances of aging-friendly infrastructure in urban–rural integration, Figure 2(g) shows the present circumstances of aging-friendly infrastructure in urban communities, and Figure 2(h) shows the present circumstances of aging-friendly infrastructure in urban streets. From Figure 2, the central area of Chengdu City has more complete green coverage, higher levels of street and community greening, and more complete infrastructure. Especially in terms of aging-friendly design, the city’s greening and infrastructure show a higher standard, providing more facilities suitable for the elderly, such as walkways and leisure areas with barrier-free design. In contrast, the level of greening coverage and infrastructure development in combined urban and rural areas and in rural areas is relatively low, especially in terms of age-appropriate facilities, which show a clear gap. In rural areas, greening efforts are mostly centered around farmland and a handful of public spaces within villages. These areas typically feature straightforward greening designs, with vegetation primarily focusing on farmland and natural scenery. However, they often lack comprehensive and systematic greening plans. Compared with urban areas, the area of greening in rural areas is relatively small, and the distribution of green space is not even enough, especially in remote areas, where the level of greening is low, relying mainly on naturally growing vegetation and crop cover, and the greening environment needs to be further improved.

1.3.1 Quantitative analysis

Grounded on literature review and research on the actual situation of UREC public areas, the POE theory is used to determine the regional characteristics suitable for elderly people in urban and rural areas. Then, combined with variables influencing the contentment of seniors with spatial design, a hierarchical system of aging design indicators for UREC public areas is constructed. A judgment matrix for the indicator system is constructed using analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Each indicator is weighted to reflect its importance in the overall design. The weighting process is carried out using the eigenvector method, and its calculation is represented in Eq. (2) [22].

where W i represents the weight of the i th indicator. a i j means the rating of the j th expert on the i th indicator. b i j means the relative importance value of the i th indicator given by the j th expert. The weighted indicator system is represented in Table 2.

Combining the indicator bodies and assignment results in Table 2, the study found that the design assigns high weights to safety and health facilities, reflecting the high reliance of older people on safety, security, and health needs in public areas, especially in terms of accessibility, lighting, and safety of passageways. The high weight assigned to accessibility of passage and service facilities in the environmental adaptability hierarchy suggests that good access design is critical to the quality of life of older people, especially in urban-rural and rural areas. It also suggests that design should pay more attention to improving the accessibility of facilities. The emphasis on social space and accessibility to cultural activities in the psychological needs hierarchy highlights the positive effects of social interaction and cultural participation on the physical and mental health of older persons. Therefore, the design should comprehensively consider the safety, health, social, and cultural needs of the elderly and promote the multidimensional optimization of public areas to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the elderly.

Furthermore, the study employs the multiple regression analysis method and correlation analysis technique to delve into how design elements of public spaces for elderly individuals in both urban and rural areas relate to their adaptive needs. Multiple regression analysis is used to calculate the degree of contribution of each design element to the adaptive indicators of the elderly (e.g., activity participation, socialization frequency, psychological comfort, etc.) by modeling the relationship between multiple independent variables and the dependent variable. The regression equation for multiple regression is shown in Eq. (3).

where Y denotes the dependent variable, i.e., the adaptability score of the elderly; X 1 , X 2 , … , X n denotes different design elements, such as accessibility, road width, and lighting design; β 0 denotes the intercept term. β 1 , β 2 , … , β n denotes the regression coefficient; and ε denotes the random error term. In the correlation analysis section, the study calculated the correlation coefficients between each design element and the adaptive needs of the elderly to quantify the strength of the linear relationship between the variables. The calculation of the correlation coefficient is shown in Eq. (4).

where r represents the correlation coefficient, whose value ranges from [−1, 1], the closer the value is to 1 or −1, the stronger the positive or negative correlation is, and when the value is close to 0, the weaker the correlation is.

1.3.2 Multi-level space design

Based on the contents of Table 1, the study not only ensures barrier-free facilities and protective design in multi-level space design, but also considers the combination of green space and activity facilities, forming a comprehensive elderly public space. The study optimizes the design of urban and rural public space levels, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Multi-level space design display.

From Figure 3, the design divides the space into several functional areas, highlighting the organic connection between different areas. Area A, as the core plaza area, provides a large area of activity space and ensures that the elderly can freely carry out activities such as socializing and relaxing. Area B, located in front of the house, is specially designed for the elderly to set up recreational points and social places, which is convenient for them to communicate with other people and enhance the interaction with the community. Area C is set up at the road intersection to provide a small activity area to meet the needs of short stops in the process of passage. Area C is located at the intersection of roads, providing a small activity area to meet the needs of the elderly for a short stay in the process of passing through. The design also ensures that the elderly can safely and conveniently walk between the functional areas through the rationally planned green space and road system, ensuring the accessibility and comfort of the overall space.

1.3.3 Multi-level road design

On the main roads in the core area, the design needs to focus on the provision of accessible ramps and handrails, as well as clear signage and safety lighting at road intersections. For secondary roads, the continuity and accessibility of the path should be ensured. The multi-level road design is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

Multi-level road design display.

From Figure 4, the design divides the road system into four levels, with Area A being external roads, mainly connecting the city with external areas, and designed with wide lanes and barrier-free access to ensure smooth traffic flow. Area B is the main urban and rural roads, which take on a higher volume of traffic and are set up with wider pavements to ensure the parallel passage of older people and vehicles. Area C is the urban and rural bypass roads, which connect the various areas of urban and rural areas, designed with continuous trails suitable for the elderly to walk. Area D is village paths, which belong to low-traffic areas and mainly serve rural areas, with the design focusing on the simplicity and safety of the access. The rational layout and connection of the roads at each level ensures a seamless connection between the areas and enables older persons to move easily between functional areas.

1.3.4 Multi-level lighting design

Based on the content of Table 1 and POE theory, multi-level lighting design should be reasonably arranged according to the functions of different areas and the needs of the elderly. The multi-level lighting design is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

Multi-Level lighting design showcase.

From Figure 5, the lighting design utilizes a combination of high and low lights. In the main road area, long-distance main light source is provided by high street lights to ensure wide lighting coverage and avoid shadows or blind areas. In walking areas or activity zones, soft fill light is provided by low level street lights to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. The overlapping areas of the high and low lighting systems effectively avoid lighting dead zones and ensure that every corner of the area is properly lit, especially during nighttime activities, enhancing the sense of security and comfort for the elderly. In addition, the lighting layout takes into account environmental landscape elements, such as trees and green belts, to reduce psychological pressure at night and create a more pleasant public space.

1.3.5 Multi-level seat design

Based on POE, research suggests that the design of rest areas should focus on meeting the multi-level needs of the elderly. First, it is necessary to ensure that the rest area is convenient for the elderly to take a brief rest between the main passage and the activity area. Second, the rest seat needs to provide a comfortable psychological and social experience. The multi-level rest area design is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6

Multi-level rest area design showcase.

In Figure 6, the design meets the different needs of the elderly through different forms of seating layouts. The lounge area includes the layout forms of linear seats, square seats, and ring seats, which provide the functions of solitude, socialization, and group activities, respectively. Green landscaping is designed in the center area to enhance the comfort and social atmosphere of the lounge area while providing a visual relaxation effect. The diverse array of seating arrangements offers elderly individuals the flexibility to select a resting position that suits their needs, enabling them to enjoy solitude or engage in social interactions, thereby enriching their overall experience in the rest area.