I did some research about whether there are some similar project to women’s retirement home. I found a project in London which is New Ground.
The case study is about the New Ground cohousing development, which is the UK’s first completed senior cohousing project. It is a scheme for older women and was created by Older Women’s Co-Housing (OWCH) in collaboration supported by Hanover Housing Association.
The development consists of 25 flats, with eight being socially rented and managed by Housing for Women, and 17 owner-occupied units. The design of New Ground integrates seamlessly into the surrounding neighborhood, with its brickwork and facade blending in with the terraced street. The cohousing concept is realized through a cohouse at the heart of the development, shared facilities, and a large shared garden.
The New Ground cohousing development serves as an inspiring example not only for older individuals but also for city living in general. It challenges the notion that cities can be lonely and devoid of a human scale by offering a solution that combines shared spaces and facilities with private living units. The success of New Ground is attributed to the collaboration between OWCH, PTE, Hanover Housing Association, and other stakeholders who have demonstrated immense energy and commitment to make this project a reality. However, the challenges faced in replicating such cohousing projects due to the rigid planning system, limited availability of suitable development sites, and conservative legal context.
Therefore, for the next step of my project, I would like to grab a chance to talk to these people. I will talk to them about my project and get some inspiration from their work.
WHAT: What is the subject or area that you intend to research? What is the precise question that you will be addressing?
How old people’s homes could provide more specialized service for elderly women?
WHY: Why will this research be of value to you – and the world?
For me:
As a woman, I hope all female gender could enjoy a better retirement life.
For society:
Due to some cultural or religious reason, it is more acceptable for some women to live in same-gender environments, especially when it comes to sharing personal spaces and receiving care.
Some women may feel safer and more comfortable in an environment exclusively for women, particularly if they have experienced trauma or abuse in the past.
Women might prefer a women-only care home to form better social connections with other women.
Women may have unique health and wellness needs that could be better addressed in a care home specifically designed for them.
Based on the research, I start a questionnaire to figure out whether people of different generation group have the require for women’s old people’s home, reason of the requirement and what kind of service they need.
Would you prefer a women’s old people’s home over a mixed-gender facility?
plan: according to the questionnaire result, I would like to make a video to present different age groups’ understanding of the challenges faced by women in their retirement life, their expectations and imaginings of facilities in women’s retirement homes.
Introduction: This questionnaire aims to gather information about your preferences and needs for specialized services in a women’s old people’s home. Your valuable feedback will help us in creating an environment that caters to the specific needs of elderly women. Your responses will remain confidential.
Age:
Below 24
25-40
41-55
56 and above
Gender:
Female
Male
Prefer not to say
Are you willing to consider living in an old people’s home now or in the future?
What services or amenities are important to you in a women’s old people’s home? (Check all that apply):
Private living quarters
Personal care assistance (bathing, dressing, grooming, etc.)
Medical care, regular check-ups and medication management
Nutritional meals and special dietary accommodations
Physical activities and exercise programs tailored for women
Mental health support and counseling
Social activities and group events
Recreation equipment
Transportation to appointments and outings
Safety and security features (emergency call systems, well-lit spaces, etc.)
Other (please specify): _________________
What additional services or programs would you like to see offered in a women’s old people’s home? (Check all that apply):
Art and creative expression workshops
Spiritual and religious activities
Educational classes and lifelong learning opportunities
Intergenerational programs (connecting with younger generations)
Pet therapy or animal-assisted activities
Volunteer opportunities and community involvement
Other (please specify): _________________
Do you have any other suggestions or concerns about creating a women’s old people’s home that caters to the specialized needs of elderly women?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback is important to us and will help in designing a women’s old people’s home that meets the unique needs and preferences of elderly women.
The aging of population and the only child policy gives more stress to children in taking care of elder people at home. However, there are several issues in Chinese elderly care market, such as lacking professional talents and employees, budget, regulatory system, and management standards. Therefore, I hope this market can undergo changes, address existing issues, and provide more abundant and high-quality services for the elderly.
Recent years, the demand of institutional elderly care has been increased. (Jiang,2021) There are two main reasons of it.
First, due to the aging of population, the proportion of people over 65 years old has been increased year by year. (DARMA, 2017) More and more old people needed to be taken care of.
Second, the only child policy gives more stress to children in taking care of elder people. Also, more and more people choose to become dink family. These kinds of old people may be not taken good care of at home. (Population forum, 2022)
3 Issue of institutional elderly care
There are several issues of institutional elderly care at present (Wang,2015):
the income and treatment of caregivers are not high even below average in many countries. Also they usually have low social status.
: Nursing homes often require long-term construction, but in addition to limited government funding support. limited private capital investment, institutional elderly care facilities have insufficient room for development.
The quality of nursing homes varies greatly. And there have been news reports of nursing homes abusing elderly people.
Most China’s institutional elderly care model mainly focuses on the basic life and health aspects of the elderly. Only a few high-end nursing homes provide services for the elderly’s spiritual and entertainment life.
Here are some photos of nursing homes in China. The top two represent basic nursing homes, some of which are supported by the government. The bottom two are of more advanced nursing homes that provide high-quality services, but the number of such facilities is relatively small.
4 The change I want to see
It is shown that the market size and forecast have been increasing.
So, I hope this market can undergo changes, address existing issues, and provide more abundant and high-quality services for the elderly.
The service groups of different old people’s homes can be more precise，like those exclusively for women or artist old people’s home
5 Conclusion
In conclusion, the growing demand for institutional elderly care in China requires addressing several issues. To improve the market, there is a need for diverse services, precise service groups, suitable building sites, and convenient visitation for family members. These changes can lead to a better quality of care for the elderly and reduce stress for their family members.
Reference:
DARMA (2017) Perspective on the status quo and development hotspot of China’s pension industry, Perspective of China’s endowment industry present situation and developing status of hot hot industry | | | | pension | | | the old beds medical | | institutions – the health industry. Available at: https://www.cn-healthcare.com/articlewm/20170712/content-1015953.html?appfrom=jkj (Accessed: April 16, 2023).
Jiang Lei, Chen Xingyu, and Zhu Hong.” Spatial distribution of nursing homes in Chinese cities and their causes of differentiation.” ACTA GEOGRAPHICA SINICA 76.8 (2021).
iiMedia Research (2022) Research Report on the Development of Global pension Industry and Market Trends in China (2022-2023), Iimedia – leader in new economy industry research and analysis reports. Available at: https://www.iimedia.cn/c400/85974.html (Accessed: April 16, 2023).
Population forum (2022) “DINK” : An Unavoidable pain — Research on the development status and trend of Chinese “DINK” groups, Original Tronics document network. Available at: https://max.book118.com/html/2022/1019/5301220120010004.shtm (Accessed: April 16, 2023).
Wang Xiaoyu. Current situation and future development mode of nursing homes in China [J]. China Market, 2015 (51): 175-175.
