Case Study: Designing with Dignity: A Vision for Next-Gen Elderly Homes

Mekarcube’s Projected Impact to the Future of Elderly Housings.pdf

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The world is undergoing a significant demographic transition, with a rapidly increasing share of the

global population entering older age. Cambodia is no exception to this trend. Although the country

continues to benefit from a demographic dividend due to its youthful population, it is simultaneously

shifting into an aging society, projected to reach a 27% elderly population by 2050, according to the

(UNFPA National Aging Policy). This shift demands immediate strategic planning, particularly in

healthcare and elderly living solutions.

The Opportunity in Cambodia’s Evolving Healthcare Landscape

Responding to this demographic trend, Cambodia’s next-generation healthcare sector is beginning

to take shape. Backed by leading local conglomerates, an estimated ($300 million investment) is

being funneled into landmark healthcare infrastructure projects as reported by Khmertimeskh. This

marks a timely opportunity to meet the rising needs of an aging population while supporting

Cambodia’s path toward upper middle-income status.

Yet, while Cambodia’s youth rightly receive much attention, the growing needs and opportunities of

its aging population deserve equal focus. This imbalance risks marginalizing the individuals whose

needs are becoming increasingly urgent. At Mekarcube, we are stepping forward with determination

to take the lead in the architectural design of next-generation elderly homes that go beyond

healthcare provision to foster dignity, inclusion, and well-being.

Building with Purpose: Mekarcube’s Core Philosophy

As a forward-thinking design and construction partner, Mekarcube aims to shape environments

that empower older adults to live with freedom, purpose, and security. We envision elderly

homes not as passive care facilities, but as vibrant, community-based spaces designed for

active, dignified living.

Our approach focuses on the built environment, a foundational element in healthy aging. We aim

to raise awareness about Cambodia’s growing aging population by developing future-ready

facilities that are safe, accessible, and socially enriching.

Promoting Age-Friendly Environments

We aim to deliver elderly housing solutions that emphasize age-supportive environments that are

both functional and sensitive to the evolving needs of older adults. Our architectural principles

consider how physical space can promote mobility, independence, and emotional well-being,

while still being rooted in realistic, context-specific solutions. By incorporating features like

smooth, accessible walkways, calming natural light, quiet areas for reflection, and greenery

views, we aim to build spaces that encourage healthy daily routines. These features help foster a

sense of comfort and ease, without overstating their impact.

Research from Arup’s (Cities Alive: Designing for Ageing Communities), emphasizes that older

individuals often experience diminished self-worth and heightened isolation when disconnected

from their neighborhoods. In response, Mekarcube aims to integrate inclusive design principles

to create environments that foster interaction, socialization, and pride of place, ensuring that

seniors remain active participants in their communities.

Designing for Active Living

Alongside comfort and inclusivity, encouraging active living is a fundamental aspect of

Mekarcube’s approach to age-friendly environments. Emphasizing the integration of safe and

accessible outdoor spaces, such as low-impact exercise areas, shaded walking paths, and

community gathering spots can support physical movement and foster social interaction across

generations.

This biophilic design approach, incorporating natural elements into built environments, has been

demonstrated to deliver significant benefits for both residents and caregivers. As documented in

(The Nature of Healthy Spaces), patients in biophilic settings experienced reduced need for

physical restraints, while caregivers reported fewer illness-related absences. Through these

design principles, Mekarcube aims to create supportive, health-promoting environments that

enhance quality of life for aging populations.

Understanding the Real Barriers to Elderly Home Development

Retirement in Cambodia is widely hoped to be a time of peace, improved quality of life, and

access to modern amenities within supportive communities. However, the reality for many

Cambodian seniors can be more complex. As individuals age, they may encounter unexpected

challenges that disrupt this ideal. In particular, elderly Cambodians often face emotional and

social difficulties when their living arrangements shift, especially when they are relocated to care

facilities or alternate residences rather than remaining in their own homes.

Cultural and Social Stigma

Despite these design innovations, Cambodia faces significant cultural barriers regarding elderly

care. Traditional Cambodian values emphasize multi-generational living, where caring for aging

parents within the family is seen as a moral obligation and source of honor. Consequently,

institutional elderly care is often stigmatized as abandonment or neglect. This cultural mindset

discourages families from considering elderly homes as viable options, and may cause feelings of

shame or rejection among the elderly themselves. Addressing this stigma requires sensitive public

education and community engagement to gradually shift perceptions.

Geographic Separation and Isolation

A growing challenge in Cambodia is the increasing geographic separation between elderly parents

and their adult children. As younger generations migrate to urban centers or abroad in search of

education and employment opportunities, many elderly individuals are left behind in rural areas

with limited support. This separation creates emotional and logistical difficulties, as families

struggle to provide daily care or respond quickly in times of need. Without nearby relatives, many

elderly individuals face increased isolation and challenges, underscoring the urgent need for

accessible and compassionate elderly care services.

Healthcare Gaps for the Aging Population

Cambodia’s healthcare system, while improving, still struggles to provide comprehensive care

tailored to the aging population. Many elderly homes lack the specialized medical staff and

infrastructure needed to manage chronic illnesses, mobility limitations, and cognitive conditions

such as dementia. Without adequate investment in facilities and workforce training, these homes

risk failing to meet the complex health needs of seniors, compromising their quality of life and

dignity.

Redefining the Landscape: Breaking Cultural and Systemic Boundaries

Addressing Social Stigma

To overcome cultural stigma, Mekarcube seeks to advocate for greater public awareness around

the value of age-friendly living environments. While broad societal change requires collaboration

with public institutions and communication experts, we believe that highlighting the benefits of well-

designed elder care facilities is a meaningful step forward. The Japanese model of community-

based elder care, which balances small supportive living groups with ongoing family participation,

offers a valuable example for Cambodia (WHO resource on Japan’s community-based social

innovations).

Promoting Family-Integrated Care Models

To help address geographic and social isolation among older adults, Mekarcube supports the idea

of developing community-based elderly care centers that offer accessible day services, basic

healthcare, and social engagement opportunities within local neighborhoods. Drawing inspiration

from international models, such as (Japan’s community-based models), we see potential in

adapting similar approaches to the Cambodian context.

We also recognize the value of family-integrated care, where families remain actively engaged

through visits, shared planning, or even co-housing arrangements. While the implementation of

such models would require broader collaboration and policy support, we believe these ideas could

contribute meaningfully to reducing stigma and strengthening emotional well-being among seniors

in Cambodia.

Bridging Geographic Gaps

As Cambodia’s youth increasingly migrate to urban centers or abroad, elderly family members are

often left behind. To address this, we support the development of community-based care centers

modeled after Thailand’s Community-Based Long-Term Care (CBLTC) initiative, which trains local

volunteers to provide home visits and care services in rural areas.

Age-Forward Architecture, Purpose-Driven Design

At Mekarcube, we believe that designing for the future means designing with empathy, foresight,

and responsibility . Our age-friendly, dignity-driven philosophy ensures that we don’t merely

construct buildings, we create ecosystems of care. Every facility we aim to design embodies

innovation, accessibility, and respect for the human journey.

As Cambodia transitions into a mature society, Mekarcube aims to lead the way, setting new

benchmarks for elderly housing that uphold quality, not compromise. We envision a future where

every elder can age with grace, autonomy, and joy, supported by resilient communities and

thoughtful design.

References

The following sources informed this article:

• UNFPA National Aging Policy

• $300M Hospital Investment

• Cities Alive by Arup

• Nature of Healthy Spaces

• WHO Community Innovations

• FOPDEV Thailand