In Japan, the statistic of elder population tends to increasing. Not over 20 years, Japan will be the country that has a ratio of elder population so much. So, it causes the innovation for quality living of elder.

      If consider the truth, becoming elder is the natural. Everybody must be old when they live so long. When reach that day, the body that used to be strong is weaken. Living in same place, same environment may be not the good answer for health anymore. Many elder and lineage are turning to take care of age changing by the one of best ways to take care of quality of life in old age is build the house that suit for elder.

Elders are divided into 3 groups according to ability to help themselves.

1.  Elders who can help themselves and others this group is the group that their bodies are still strong, do not have the dangerous health problem. So, this group only need the residence that suitable for them, clean, but does not use the strange helping device.

2.  Elders who probably cannot help themselves this group is the group that their bodies are not strong, have some congenital disease but not so heavy til cannot get up on the bed. This group may be taken care closely from elders who are still strong.

3.  Elder who cannot help themselves or sick this group is the group that really need the care closely. Other than the proper environment and carer who understand them, they also need additional device and emergency lifesaving equipment.

When know about group of elder, many people can imagine that each group of elders need the care, residence and environment. Generally, house for elder also need stability not differ from house for general people. But house for elder will have the different design for changed health such as

Things that necessary for house for elders

1.  It should be one floor house or bedroom placed on first floor to avoid the stairway using because elder’s knee is begin to weaken and has risk to accident in stairway using. But if house’s plan is multi-floor house, it should be installed the elevator and if you cannot install the elevator, it must have handrail that strong and not too high.

2.  Sliding door Normal doors must use force to open it and has the risk to accident. So, sliding door is safer.

3.  Ramp for wheelchair for elders who have to use the wheelchair, ramp for up and down will make them able to help themselves more.

4.  Have enough light the vision of old people tends to misty, cannot see anything clearly. If the house is dark or has a low light corner, it’s always dangerous. Two major points that must have the more light specially is pathway and bathroom.

5.  Airy will make them feel fine and good for both body health and mental health.

6.  Safe floor materials to prevent the danger from falling. Floors in the house for elder must be the floor that not too slip and too solid.

7.  Electricity system Electricity systems in house for elder must consider many things such as height in the level that can turn the switch although sit on the wheelchair, switch must has the light to visible clearly, has the electric cutting system, prevent the short circuiting and has the emergency light in the case of need a help.

8.  Sanitation systems must be good system both water, electric and rubbish that must have the drainage and not pile up until cause culture because elders’ bodies risk to disease more than young age. So, it must be clean specially.

9.  Good surrounding It must be located in area that have the cleanness, comfortable and suitable for relax.

Other than managing the general area, house for elder also has 2 points that need a care specially that are bathroom and bedroom.

Bedroom for elders

1.  Has restroom in the bedroom because people in this age tend to use the restroom frequently.

2.  Able to held down the three sides for fast helping. It is to put the bed in the center of room, has only headboard that close the wall.

3.  Cannot lock from inside.

4.  Can go to carer room easily.

Bathroom for elders

1.  Floor is not slip and has the handrails over the room.

2.  Can open from outside.

3.  Has the emergency sign in the risk areas that are shower and bath seat.

4.  Use the low-pressure shower.

5.  Has the proper size that wide 1.5 – 2 meters.

6.  The door must be wide.

Environment and physical well-being is very important to elders same as caring from lineage  that is the factor that make elders have a strong mental health and live with beloved so long.