Universal design in public housing: Enhancing the quality of life of older people with mild cognitive impairment living alone

The population of Hong Kong is ageing and is expected to gradually increase, and thus an increase in single older people with mild cognitive impairment is expected. This may progress to dementia overtime. By 2064, a third of Hong Kong’s total population is expected to be aged 65 or above, which will put extreme pressure on long-term health services and increase social care costs. The present ethnographic study is aimed at revealing some of the contemporary concerns about human culture and social interaction. The study approach begins
with participatory design workshop followed by in-depth interviews with a centre manager who assisted in this study and a carer for people with dementia. This study suggests that universal design principles are not sufficiently applied in the development of public housing for single elderly people living with MCI. To address this deficit in interior, home furniture and product designs, developing an effective reminder has been suggested, which includes multisensory and psychological considerations. The coping strategies for improving the quality of life these older people are identified as continued home care and family support, an awareness of universal design principles, social networks and engagement and revisiting public health policies.