Aging & Society: Eighth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

A homelike environmental design is shown to have a positive effect on quality of life (QoL) as well as the functionality of older adults with dementia. This study examines the relationship between environmental design in a long-term care (LTC) facility in Japan and its effect on residents with dementia’s daily activity patterns and QoL. In February 2018, data were collected at a group care (GC) facility for Japanese seniors. The GC facility was comprised of several units, each with up to ten residents. Four GC units were selected to determine the effects of environmental design on QoL using four different environmental scales. Then, four to eight residents per unit were evaluated to determine the effects on QoL using dementia care mapping and the QoL-AD scales. We hypothesize that a unit scoring high in physical environment attributes would have a positive impact on the older adult residents’ QoL. An environmental audit tool-HC is more appropriate to measure Japan’s GC units. Higher mood and engagement values were reflected through daily activity programs and socializing with others. QOL-AD scores obtained from LTC residents were higher than the QOL-AD scores from the LTC staff. Our findings help determine the relationship between environment design and QoL of older adults; higher environmental scores would indicate a higher QoL. For further study, we are going to assess the same environmental and QoL scales at different facilities and compare the results to determine effective design of the LTC physical environment in order to improve LTC residents’ QoL.