Happily Ever After

Mental Health Promoting Senior Living environments

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

N.D. Znamenskaya Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

Birgit Jürgenhake Public Building and Housing Design (mentor)
A.B.J. van Deudekom Architectural Technology - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
F.M. van Andel Public Building and Housing Design (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2023 Nadja Znamenskaya
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Published Date

07-07-2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

Late life depression is a common problem among seniors. It is estimated that up to 25% of people over 75 experience depression. The consequences are not limited to a having a worse mental state, but include a variety of physical comorbidities. Therefore countering late life depression will not only help the individual, but it will also reduce pressure on the healthcare system. Depression should be treated with medication and psychotherapy, but since many seniors spend the majority of their day at home, their moods will be affected by their living environments. Currently senior housing typologies are notorious for being somber and institutional. Therefore this thesis aims to establish which design factors can contribute to the alleviation of late life depression in senior living environments? The factors have been derived through an interdisciplinary approach; findings from a literature review of Evidence Based Design were combined with psychiatric perspectives on late life depression. Finally housing preferences of Dutch seniors were considered, since meeting their needs might contribute to feelings of life satisfaction. In order to illustrate how these design factors could be implemented in architectural design, case studies have been performed of state-of-the-art psychiatric hospitals and retirement homes. From these methods eighteen mental health-promoting Design Factors have been derived. These Design Factors can be categorized into three groups:

1)Environmental Design Factors include: Central Location, Views of Nature, (Morning) Light, Noise and Air Quality.
2)Building Design Factors are comprised of: Social Spaces, Intergenerational Relationships, Physical Activity, Dementia Spaces, Positive Distractions, Staff Spaces, Appropriate Size, Outdoor Spaces and Home Ownership.
3)Finishing Factors include: Accessibility, Privacy, Control and Homelike Environment.
Integrating these factors into the designs of senior living environments might contribute to the prevention or alleviation of late life depression.