jailcd2019-065: A Study on Actual Conditions of ITE of Elderly Day Care Centers in Tianjin

Abstract

As a significant portion of the elderly care system, elderly day care center (EDCC) is operated by the office  on  aging  belonging  to  community  residents  committee  in  China.  Thus,  EDCC  and  community residents committee are always in the same building, the indoor thermal environment (ITE) of which may not comfort the elderly possibly. This study administered field measurements at two EDCCs in Tianjin from 08:30 to16:00 in summer and 09:00 to16:30 in winter, and specifically analyzed the actual conditions of ITE in continuous five days. The parameters of measurements were the air temperature, radiation temperature, relative  humidity,   and   air   velocity.   Meanwhile,   the   subjective   evaluations   were   obtained   through questionnaire surveys. Overall, results show that the temperature difference between top floor and first floor comes up to 3.5℃ and sunspace could maintain a steady temperature for indoor space , and the elderly are not adapted to air conditions but prefer natural ventilation. Additionally, according to the physiological and psychological characteristics and behavioral habits of the elderly, this study analyzed the affecting factors on the ITE. More studies on the ITE are needed to provide the elderly with comfortable and healthy EDCCs.