[Purposes] This study aims to address the problem of spatial discomfort for the elderly in the old unit-based residential areas in China, the reconstruction and renovation of the unit-based residential spaces and the study of the functional replacement of small-scale spaces in urban street renovation are conducted to improve community functions, enhance the home-based elderly care environment, and raise the residents' happiness index. [Methods] Through field investigation and case analysis of the needs for spatial renovation of the old unit-based residential areas in Handan City are understood, the common issues of the spaces in the old unit-based residential areas are summarized. Reconstruction strategies are proposed from four aspects: cultural features, infrastructure, transportation system, and public spaces. [Findings] In response to the issues such as the lack of public spaces, fragmentation, and difficulty in meeting the usage needs in the unit-based residential areas, combined with barrier-free design and the needs of special groups, renovation plans are proposed, including excavating and expressing cultural features, adding and repairing infrastructure, integrating and dividing the transportation system, and renovating and reconstructing public spaces, to stimulate the vitality of public spaces in the unit-based residential areas. [Conclusions] This study not only enriches the theory of reconstruction and renovation of public spaces in unit-based residential areas in North China, but also provides new ideas for the renovation of public spaces in unit-based communities and aging-friendly design ideas for old communities to cope with aging issues. It is expected to provide a certain reference for the renovation and design of similar unit-based communities.