Need Identification and Spatial Allocation Models for Urban Community Eldercare Facilities: A Case Study of the Central Urban Area of Tianjin

Abstract

Amid ongoing improvements in urban public service provision, the standardized provision of community eldercare facilities often fails to adequately align supply with user needs. From a  supply-and-demand perspective,  this  study  examined  differences  in needs  across population groups. Andersen’s behavioral model and the Kano model were used to assess respondents’need categories and degrees of need. Correlation analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with these needs, followed by cluster analysis based on the Kano categories to characterize population groups, identify typical user groups, and examine their functional-space needs. The results show that needs differed significantly according to population characteristics and functional-space type. Based on these findings, spatial allocation models were developed for the overall population and typical user groups, and a spatial allocation framework organized around functionally independent modules was proposed. This approach supports more precise identification of user needs and more evidence-based allocation of functional spaces, thereby informing the planning and design of community eldercare facilities.