Research On The Bathroom Sysem Design For The Elderly Based On Kansei Image

Bath system indicates a place for processing individual physical health where people clean themselves, tidy and excrete. There is no doubt that bath system is the most important and also the most complex part for the whole home design task. It is advised that the elders tend to use bath system more frequently than others due to the age dependent physiological changes in their bodies when they are getting older. The statistics also shows that more than50%of older population over65-years-old experience falls every year, while most of falls occurred at bathroom due to the slippery ground, making the bathroom and toilet are the most dangerous places. Therefore, the layout profile, sanitary facilities and space distribution in the bathroom may have a great influence on convenience for the elders’usage. If improperly designed, abundant security risks may arise which definitely cause serious threat to the physical and psychological health of the elders and will impact their daily life and their independently live abilities. Consequently, it will lay a heavy burden on the family and society.In this paper, bathing activities and gestures of elderly people have been analysed when they are taking a bath, using the toilet and wash up. Six basic mobility types for the older using bath systems have been summarized which includes walking, crossing a high, turning around, bend over, sitting/standing transform and limb activities. This comprehensive analysis aims to explore specific requirements for the elders in the bathroom which refers to balance support and force distribution when they are using it. Then an assessment was carried out based on Kansei theory and related principles by interviewing and questionnaire in order to qualitatively specify the bathroom preferences of older people which is illustrated from function-image-oriented, morphology-image-oriented, colour-image-oriented and material-image-oriented aspects. By using this estimation result, the sanitary toilet was selected as an object for image analysis. The key elements for the toilet design were indicated qualitatively. Based on the questionnaires and statistical analysis, the potential relationship between the toilet style and perceptual image was established. In the end, an universal design for family bath system was proposed which ascertain the emotional needs of the elders. It is demonstrated that the assistive function of "universal assistive devices in bathroom" was also fulfilled in the proposed bath system.