Comparison of Ageing-Friendly Supporting Facilities between Self-financed and Government-subsidized Residential Care Homes: Evidence from China

Ageing-friendly supporting facilities are commonly implemented in residential care homes for older people. These facilities not only support the daily activities of older people but also affect their physical and psychological health. However, the development of ageing-friendly supporting facilities usually varies among homes due to differences in construction and operational funding. In order to better accommodate older residents, it is essential to compare the ageing-friendly supporting facilities across different residential care homes and identify the key variances. A total of 69 samples were collected from two primary categories of residential care homes in China, namely self-financed homes and government-subsidized homes. Eighteen ageing-friendly supporting facilities items were identified. An independent T-test was applied to compare the significant differences between the two types of residential care homes. Both categories received relatively high scores for supporting facilities related to accessibility and safety (e.g., the height of the toilet, ease of using beds, anti-collision facilities for wheelchair users, etc.), particularly in self-financed residential homes. However, leisure facilities in self-financed residential homes were thanfound to be significantly inferior compared to those in government-subsidized homes. To further understand the needs of older residents, the characteristics (i.e., gender and level of independence) were also considered. Female older people tended to be more particular about regular cleaning, similar to independent residents. Moreover, older people requiring special care rated leisure facilities lower than the independent individuals. Based on the findings, practical recommendations were provided for improving ageing-friendly supporting facilities in both types of residential care homes, with the aim of enhancing the living environment and the well-being of older residents.