Relationships between facility management, risks and health of elderly in care and attention homes

Abstract

Purpose: Given the aging population and resulting increase in the demand for residential care and attention (C&A) homes in Hong Kong, the government has allotted funds to provide better care services for the elderly. However, such appropriation seems to have focused on creating additional places, rather than improving the quality of services. The elderly may face risks if they are not provided with proper facilities to assist with activities of daily living (ADL), while those suffering from various diseases may be at even greater risk. In order to mitigate such risk and hence enhance the quality of facility management (FM), this paper aims to identify the major components of FM in C&A homes and investigate the relationships between these components and the risks and diseases facing elderly residents. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 81 questionnaires were completed by elderly residents of C&A homes, evaluating their perceived comfort level with FM components, their disease status and the frequency of occurrence of various specified risks. Relationships between these variables were then established by Pearson correlation and partial correlation analyses. Findings: In total, 13 FM components were identified, of which only four (space planning, noise, signage and catering) had significant relationships with the identified risks. Some of these relationships were moderated by specific diseases. Research limitations/implications: The relatively small sample size, with 81 respondents from seven homes, may limit the generalisability of the results. However, the study establishes a platform for conducting further large-scale surveys of elderly residents in different types of C&A homes. On the other hand, further investigation of the specific FM requirements of elderly residents suffering from various diseases is also encouraged. Originality/value: This paper confirms that close relationships exist between various FM components, risks and diseases relevant to elderly residents in C&A homes. The results indicate that the FM components of space planning, noise, signage and catering should be addressed in order to reduce the risks such residents face. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.