Examining sustainability indicators of space management in elderly Facilities—a case study in China

Abstract

Along with increases in the aging population and the number of elderly facilities, the existing unsustainable patterns of building operations have caused a series of space-related problems such as space waste, increasing operational costs and poor living environment. An effective method to resolve these problems is sustainable space management (SSM), which is a particularly good fit for nonprofit elderly facilities with limited capital budgets. However, one critical barrier to SSM is the lack of a sustainability measurement model in recent studies and practices. To overcome this barrier, this paper first develops a conceptual sustainability framework with five elements, or sustainability dimensions (SDs): facility characteristics, facility management organization, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Afterwards, an initial list of indicators evaluating the sustainability of space management is identified through a literature review and interviews with experts. Meanwhile, several hypothesized relationships among the five SDs are proposed based on experience and prior studies. A questionnaire survey to collect raw data regarding stakeholders' views of China's elderly facilities is conducted to identify the significance of these sustainability indicators (SIs). Furthermore, a structural equation modeling analysis comprising confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis is conducted to examine the measurement model as well as the proposed hypotheses. Based on a discussion of the key SIs (KSIs), significant paths for driving sustainability in space management within elderly facilities are proposed. The findings will fill the blind spot that facility managers experience when practicing daily space management to promote sustainability.