A Study on the Optimization of Elderly Housing Environments for Empty-Nest Seniors in China

Amid the backdrop of global and domestic population aging, this study focuses on the increasingly prominent housing challenges faced by empty-nest elderly individuals in China, with an emphasis on the optimization and renovation of elderly residential spaces. The research clarifies the multidimensional needs of the empty-nest elderly population—including independent living, social participation, health and safety, economic security, and emotional comfort—and analyzes the spatial characteristics of aging residential communities. By integrating representative domestic and international cases of age-friendly renovation, the study establishes an indoor spatial theoretical framework based on adaptive reuse, resilient design, and barrier-free design, as well as an outdoor community environment optimization framework grounded in participatory design, empowerment theory, and cooperative economy theory. A comprehensive theoretical model—comprising “needs-driven approach—spatial typology—representative cases—theoretical methods—design principles”—is proposed. The study presents eight age-friendly design principles: minimal intervention, emotional preservation, multifunctionality, safety and accessibility, operability, participation, social experience, and economic security. These principles aim to address the complex residential difficulties of empty-nest elderly individuals, improve their quality of life, and promote the circulation of community resources and sustainable development. The research outcomes not only offer systematic theoretical support and practical guidance for the renovation of elderly housing at the county level in China, but also provide meaningful theoretical references and practical insights for countries like South Korea that are facing severe aging-related challenges.