philips design challenge - chinese elderly

be connected for mental well-being

Tom Fejér and Zhiyuan Zheng16 Oct 2012

ContentsGlobal AgingLocal IssuesStakeholdersDirectionKey FindingsPersonasExperience Flow (draft)OpportunitiesReference

Philips Design Challenge for Chinese Elderly 2012

Global AgingMental DiseasesGrowing numbers of elderly in countries of the developing world presage an increase in those affected by organic, age-related mental diseases such as dementia (Levkoff, Macarthur, & Bucknall, 1995).

Social LifeElderly lack of social interactions specially verbal communication which could help to maintain their mental health and prevent dementia.

Physical and Mental well-beingThe mental well-being of elderly is affected by their decreasing physical condition (Palus-ka & Schwenk, 2000).

Local Issues


Demographic Shift

Structural Changes of Family

Age-related Mental Problems

Urbanization and Overpopulation


Demographic Shift

PresentMore than 119 million people in the country are aged 65+, the largest in the world, ac-cording the Ministry of Health (10th of October 2012) (ChinaDaily, 2012).

TrendBy the end of 2013, the number of elderly aged 60+ is expected to be 200 million, ac-counting for 16% of the population (ChinaDaily, 2012).

It is estimated that China could have some 400 million people 60+ by 2050 (About.com, 2012).


Structural Changes of Family

About 23% of China’s seniors 65+ live by themselves (About.com, 2012).

Less than 50% of elderly women live with their children in Beijing (About.com, 2012).

“Tradition-minded elders may feel particularly distressed if their children fail to provide enough care, (...)” said Tu Keguo, director of the Confucianism Study Institu-tion at Shandong Academy of Social Sciences (Xinhua, 2010).


Age-related Mental ProblemsIn Beijing found that 4.4% of residents aged 65+ who responded were suffering from depression (ChinaDaily, 2012).


Urbanization and OverpopulationMany of China’s urban elders had lived in the old quarters of the cities, which have faced mass demolitions as China pushed for a quick modernization of its cities (Xinhua, 2010).

Stakeholders roles and visions in the future of the elderly


GovernmentIn Beijing, the 12th Five-Year Plan sets a target of 90% of the elderly receiving care at home through improved social services by 2020; 6% will stay with the community centres supported by the government; and 4% will stay with the nursing homes (Zhang, 2012).

CompanyInvesting in solutions targeting the changing needs of the elderly such as elderly homes or home care services.

FamilyFilial piety, emotional and financial support, personal care-giving in case of serious illness, feel-ing of strong kinship

CommunitySelf-organized communities for shared interested.


DirectionElders 55+ living by themselves (空空)

Lack of social interaction

Lack of home care

No higher education

Key Findings


Key Findings

The number of elders who are living alone is rapidly increasing.

Growing number of elderly challenges by depression or other mental problems.

Investment in the construction of mental health facilities and the training of more psy-chiatrists.

Elderly residents become isolated and disengaged from society

The traditional family structure is changing.

Local communities, neighbourhood committees in particular are lack of organized activities.

Elderly would benefit from social interactions specially verbal communication helps maintain their mental health and preventing dementia.

Personas


李爷爷 Mr. Li

刘爷爷 Mr. Liu张奶奶 Ms. Zhang

Age: 75

Occupation before retirement: Skilled worker of metal in factory

City: Beijing

Living condition: Small apartment with two bedrooms, one living room, one kitchen and one toilet

Partner: Passed away 3 years ago at the age of 68

Financial: Retirement pension and from two children

Family: Two children, 李楠 and李佳, brothers passed away李楠: Will retire soon, working and living in Shanghai 李佳: Will retire soon, living with family in Beijing

Hobbies: Keep pet birds, raise flowers (on balcony), smoking

李爷爷 (Mr. Li)

I don’t refuse going to elderly house, but the ones in large cities like Beijing have a long waiting list and also quite ex-pensive. Although my daughter lives in the same city as me, but she is always busy with her personal life.


刘爷爷 (Mr. Liu)张奶奶 (Ms. Zhang)

We want to do something more, but we can only stay at home and “look at each other”. My husband often drinks a lot at night at home during and after dinner. I am worrying about his health but I can do nothing. He says he feels him-self completely useless.

Age: 63 (Mr. Liu) 58 (Ms. Zhang)

Occupation before retirement:Local authority (Mr. Liu)Small shop in the market (Ms. Zhang)

City: Suburban of Dalian

Living condition: Large house with two stories

Financial: Retirement pension and from one child

Family: One male child, 空xx空xx: Working and living in Dalian

Hobbies: Calligraphy (Mr. Liu), Sewing, Mahjong (Ms. Zhang)

Get up at 5.30am.Do Taiji at balcony (45 min).Prepare and enjoy breakfast - porridge with simple dishes.Go to the market and buy fresh vegetables, fruits and meat, and talk to the shop keeper.Turn on TV while watering the flowers.

Noon take a nap till 3pm.Clean and tidy up living room.Praying for half an hour. Call sister.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm.Read daily newspaper.Shower.Sleep at 9.30pm.

Get up 5.45.Go out for a walking (nobody on the streets) for one hour.Sit outside and watch pedestrians.Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch.Take a nap till 3.20pm.Prepare “special” food for praying.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm.One child calls.Shower.Read daily newspaper.Sleep at 10.00pm.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm. Shower. Read daily newspaper. Sleep at 9.38pm.

Get up at 5.30am. Do Taiji at balcony (45 min).Breakfast. Turn on TV while watering the flowers. Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch. Take a nap till 2pm. Take a bus to go for the weekly acupuncture treatment to the clinic at 4.30pm.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm. Read daily newspaper. Shower. Sleep at 9.47pm.

Get up at 5.30am. Turn on TV. Cleaning the kitchen. Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch.Go to the hairdresser.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

ExperienceFlow


Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm. Read daily newspaper. Shower. Sleep at 9.47pm.

Get up at 5.30am. Turn on TV. Cleaning the kitchen. Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch.Go to the hairdresser.

Visit one child, prepare dishes and have din-ner there. Shower. Read daily newspaper. Sleep at 10pm.

Get up at 5.30am. Turn on TV while watering the flowers. Walk around in the house. Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch. Taking a nap. Listening radio. Young meter guy comes to collect energy fee.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm. Read daily newspaper. Shower.

Get up at 6am. Prepare lunch. Go to a friend’s place, and play Mahjong.

Enjoy lunch. Go to a local temple and pray there.

Turn on TV and watch news and weather forecast from 7pm. Read daily newspaper. Shower.

Get up at 5.30am.Turn on TV while watering the flowers. Go to the market and buy fresh food, and talk to the shop keeper.Prepare lunch.

Enjoy lunch. Go to a local temple and pray there.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Opportunities


Opportunities

Changing lifestyle - providing tools which fit in their daily ritual.

Empowering existing communities - stimulate proactive community elders to invite and motivate the rest.

Bonding the family - strengthen connectivity between generations.

Enriching emotional interaction - design possibilities for sharing experiences and em-bracing sensation with same age group.

Deliver happiness - provide memorable and enjoyable moments/experiences in their daily routines without huge expense or effort.

Reference


About.com. (2012). The Elderly in China. Retrieved from About.com Chinese Culture: http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa060400a.htm

ChinaDaily. (2012, October 11). Concern for mental health|Editorials|chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved from CHINADAILY Europe: http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-10/11/content_15808878.htm

Levkoff, S. E., Macarthur, I. W., & Bucknall, J. (1995, October). Elderly mental health in the developing world. 41(7), 983-1003. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(94)00434-U

Paluska, S. A., & Schwenk, T. L. (2000). Physical Activity and Mental Health: Current Concepts. Sports Medicine, 29(3), 167-180.

Xinhua. (2010, September 27). High suicide rate haunts Chinese elderly. Retrieved from CHINADAILY: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/chi-na/2010-09/27/content_11354573.htm

Zhang, M. (2012, March 28). Nursing home scarce for China’s elderly - China.org.cn. Retrieved from China.org.cn: http://www.china.org.cn/chi-na/2012-03/28/content_25006051_2.htm

philips design challenge - chinese elderly

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