Background                                                             

Mr. Pang, aged 73 lived with his spouse and on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. He is a patient with a long-term illness. His feet have become deformed in unsteady walking that is at risk of falling at any time. Mrs. Pang suffers from glaucoma, and she always occurs tremors and convulsions , which affects her ability to move. There is a large amount of clutter in their home, and their hoarding greatly affected his living space. Except for the handrails in the bathroom , there are no handrails in other places in the house. They hope to improve the safety of the living environment and help prevent the risk of falls.

Suggestions

The team persuaded Mr. and Mrs. Pang to manage the clutter and advised them to discard as many unnecessary items as possible. Having too much clutter would compromise their living space , and they can cause injuries from tripping over the clutter at any time. The occupational therapist recommended that fall-prevention equipment be installed, such as handrails and sensor lights, to reduce the chance of falls for the elderly. The designer specially designed a multi-functional entrance cabinet for the elderly, which can be used for storage or as an armrest. It combines beauty and functionality, making the home more organized, safer and neater.

Background

Mr. Ho, 67 years old, who suffers from dystrophy, has undergone two orthopedic surgeries for his feet. He needs a wheelchair to assist his mobility, even opening a door lock is difficult for him.

Suggestions

The occupational therapist and design team focused on renovating the bathroom to improve Mr. Ho's self-care ability. The original sliding door was converted into an external sliding door, the bathroom entrance was widened to facilitate Mr. Ho's wheelchair access, and other equipment such as mirrors and faucets were adjusted. Moreover, the team added an electric clothes drying rack and replaced the original door lock with an electric lock to facilitate Mr. Ho's limited hand movements.

Background :

Ms. Lee, aged 79, lives alone. 30 years ago, she and her husband moved into the unit, but due to financial constraints at the time, they were unable to renovate it. As a result, the walls were never painted or decorated, and the floor was left without any protective covering. Over the years, the condition of the unit has deteriorated significantly.

Over 10 years ago, Mr. Lee passed away, leaving Ms. Lee to live alone. Deeply attached to the memories she shared with her husband in the home, she was reluctant to move out and chose to remain. However, the unit had never been renovated, and the floor remains a rough, uneven concrete surface. Insect and ant infestations have caused visible erosion and grooves on the walls, while the ceiling suffers from peeling paint. These conditions not only affect her daily life but have also taken a toll on her emotional well-being.

As Ms. Lee grows older and her mobility declines, the lack of proper flooring increases the risk of falls and injuries. The rough, unprotected concrete floor poses a serious safety hazard for her.

Suggestions :

After an assessment by the occupational therapist and the design team of Ms. Lee’s mobility and home layout, several improvements were implemented to enhance her independence and safety at home. The occupational therapist focused on supporting Ms. Lee’s self-care abilities by installing handrails along the main passageways, bed rails beside her bed, and an electric clothes drying rack by the window.

The design team reconfigured the furniture layout to create a clearer and wider circulation path. To reduce the risk of falls and injuries, vinyl flooring was installed to cover the previously rough surface. The ceiling and walls were also stripped and repainted to address issues with insect and ant infestations.

In addition, the team thoughtfully custom-built a multifunctional cabinet near the entrance, designed to store her walking cane and shopping trolley, while also serving as a bench for changing shoes. New lighting fixtures were installed, casting a soft glow on Ms. Lee's favourite beige-colored walls, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. With these thoughtful modifications, Ms. Lee can now enjoy a safer and more comfortable aging-in-place experience.