Universal Design, Autonomy, and Psychological Wellbeing of Older Adults With Mobility Disabilities

ObjectivesThis study investigates the relationship between universal design (UD) attributes, autonomy, and the psychological wellbeing of older adults with disabilities. The goal is to provide evidence-based design guide for aging-in-place, prioritizing UD elements that promote autonomy and psychological wellbeing.MethodA total of 165 older adults participated in the online survey. Using structural equation modeling, the latent factors of UD were identified for the kitchen, bathroom, and general areas within home environments.ResultsResults revealed that bathroom UD features, including walk-in bathtubs, curb-less showers, shower seats, and grab bars, significantly predicted autonomy, whereas kitchen and general UD features did not. Additionally, autonomy was positively associated with psychological wellbeing and fully mediated the relationship between UD features and wellbeing.ConclusionImplications for aging-in-place design are provided, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing functionally essential design factors in residential planning and remodeling for older adults with disabilities.