In recent years, awareness of aging in place has been steadily increasing. For elderly individuals with mobility limitations, the spatial functions of existing housing often fail to meet their needs. As a result, many seniors seek housing with supporting facilities that enable them to continue living in their original residences without the need to relocate.
This study aims to examine the current living environment of elderly people in Taiwan and to identify areas for improvement from the perspective of users—namely, older adults and their caregivers. The study participants were seniors aged 65 and above, living in residences with three stories or fewer, along with their primary caregivers. Their home environments were systematically assessed.
The questionnaire survey covered aspects such as the elderly’s self-care abilities, the degree of inconvenience in carrying out home activities, and the improvements they personally perceived as necessary in their living environment.
The findings indicate that many elderly people have grown accustomed to their familiar surroundings. Even when environmental barriers compromise accessibility, they continue to live and adapt in their own homes. In addition, a significant number of seniors remain unaware that government long-term care resources can be used to improve home environments, thereby mitigating age-related functional decline and reducing the overall caregiving burden.
Caregivers highlighted key areas in need of improvement within the home environment, including the installation of ramps to eliminate threshold height differences, the addition of handrails along passageways, the provision of stair lifts, and the application of non-slip flooring. Home environment modifications should take full account of the physical and psychological conditions of care recipients, as well as their daily living needs, rather than being based solely on regulatory requirements.