Exploring the design of physical environments for older adults – a qualitative study on staff perceptions of outdoor areas

• Background: Although the importance of the design of physical care environments for older adults and healthcare staff of residential care facilities (RCFs) is well recognized, few studies have taken the staff perspective regarding how environmental factors influence its users. This study considers healthcare staff perceptions of older adults’ RCFs with a focus on outdoor areas. Methods: Twenty RCFs in Sweden were purposively sampled to obtain facilities with varying building design, type of ownership, year of construction, building size and geographic location. Ten healthcare staff from each facility were randomly selected and recruited by the care home managers. Healthcare staff completed the Staff Perception of Older People’s Residential Care Environments (SPORE) questionnaire. In this study, only written responses to open-ended questions on the physical care environment were analysed, using qualitative content analysis. Results: The importance of outdoor areas for the well-being of older adults was emphasised, and several requirements and deficiencies in the physical features of such areas were identified. Concerns were expressed about the lack of accessibility to outdoor areas. Physical features that can provide support for older adults when using outdoor areas, such as ramps and stable surfaces, were limited, as was their maintenance. Conclusions: This study shows the importance of taking the users’ needs into account when planning and designing RCFs for older adults. There is potential for improving the design of outdoor areas in order to provide safe and supportive physical care environments and to facilitate care delivery.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)