Physical Accessibility of Integrated Resort Facilities to Older Adults: Linking Perceived Facilitators, Constraints, and Universal Design Principles

Abstract

This paper examines the physical accessibility of integrated resort (IR) facilities to older adults, by applying the theory of leisure constraint and facilitator, and principles of universal design (UD). Qualitative interviews with 26 older adults who had visited Macao’s integrated resorts were conducted. Results revealed that adequate, sizable, and tidy washrooms, spacious public areas, and easily identified and approached dining venues had facilitated the older adults to spend some time in the IRs. However, insufficient and unclear signage, lack of seats, poor lighting, fast revolving doors and escalators, difficulty in using the health code to enter the resorts, and too many stairs and curbs were identified as the major physical constraints to them. These facilitators and constraints complied or did not comply with certain UD principles in different ways and brought several behavioral outcomes. Theoretical contributions and practical implications were offered.