The impact of thermal environment of transition spaces in elderly-care buildings on thermal adaptation and thermal behavior of the elderly

Abstract

A field survey was performed using questionnaires and physical measurements to investigate the thermal environment characteristics of typical transition spaces in residential buildings for the elderly and their impacts on the elderly's thermal adaptation. Forty-two buildings in 17 elderly care facilities in the Shanghai area were investigated. A model was constructed to predict the relationship of the temperature difference between the transition space and indoor environments, considering the indoor thermal satisfaction of the elderly dwelling in Shanghai's elderly care facilities. The elderly's indoor thermal satisfaction improved the most when the difference in temperature between the transition space and indoor environment was 6 °C and 2 °C in the winter and summer, respectively. Given the thermal satisfaction and self-assessed health of the elderly, the ideal model for designing a transition space in an elderly care facility is to utilize a semi-open external corridor with the temperature/humidity constantly increasing/decreasing from outdoors, transition space, and to indoors. A transition space assists the elderly in temperature adaptation through activities such as sunbathing and exercising. As a result, thermal conditions of aged-friendly care facilities should be designed and spatially composed to fulfil the needs of the elderly inhabitants. The use of an appropriate spatial thermal distribution within these environments can direct the elderly's daily behavior, improve their physical and mental health, and provide a scientific basis for planning and designing senior living communities.