Spatial Optimization of Residential Care Facility Configuration Based on the Integration of Modified Immune Algorithm and GIS: A Case Study of Jing'an District in Shanghai, China.

Min Cheng,Xiao Cui

doi:10.3390/ijerph17218090

Abstract

As the population is aging rapidly, the irrationality of residential care facility (RCF) configuration has impacted the efficiency and quality of the aged care services so significantly that the optimization of RCF configuration is urgently required. A multi-objective spatial optimization model for the RCF configuration is developed by considering the demands of three stakeholders, including the government, the elderly, and the investor. A modified immune algorithm (MIA) is implemented to find the optimal solutions, and the geographic information system (GIS) is used to extract information on spatial relationships and visually display optimization results. Jing’an District, part of Shanghai, China, is analyzed as a case study to demonstrate the advantages of this integrated approach. The configuration rationality of existing residential care facilities (RCFs) is analyzed, and a detailed recommendation for optimization is proposed. The results indicate that the number of existing RCFs is deficient; the locations of some RCFs are unreasonable, and there is a large gap between the service supply of existing RCFs and the demands of the elderly. To fully meet the care demands of the elderly, 6 new facilities containing 1193 beds are needed to be added. In comparison with the optimization results of other algorithms, MIA is superior in terms of the calculation accuracy and convergence rate. Based on the integration of MIA and GIS, the quantity, locations, and scale of RCFs can be optimized simultaneously, effectively, and comprehensively. The optimization scheme has improved the equity and efficiency of RCF configuration, increased the profits of investors, and reduced the travel costs of the elderly. The proposed method and optimization results have reference value for policy-making and planning of RCFs as well as other public service facilities.

Highlights

In recent years, China’s population is aging rapidly due to the one-child policy and a reduced mortality rate
The rational configuration of residential care facility (RCF) helps to improve the ability of urban old-age service
Considering the impact of three stakeholders including the government, the elderly, and the investor on the configuration of RCFs, a multi-objective spatial optimization model with complex constraints for RCF configuration is developed based on the goals of maximizing configuration equity and efficiency of government-configured service facilities, minimizing travel costs of the elderly and maximizing profits of investors

Summary

Introduction

China’s population is aging rapidly due to the one-child policy and a reduced mortality rate. One of the largest cities in China, is facing a severe challenge with regard to the aging population. During the past few decades, Shanghai has gone through a dramatic demographic transition from high fertility and high mortality to low fertility and low mortality, inevitably leading to rapid aging of the population. The registered elderly population (aged 60 and over) accounted for. 35.2% of the total population of Shanghai in 2019, which is a 56.5% increase over the proportion of the elderly population in 2010 [1]. Residential care facilities (RCFs) play an important role in caring. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8090; doi:10.3390/ijerph17218090 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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