A Review Article: Fall Incidents and Interior Architecture— Influence of Executive Function in Normal Ageing

Abstract

Many ageing people are staying at home, whether they are self-isolating or social distancing, because of the current Covid-19 situation. Fall incidents at home among the ageing are significantly associated with a high level of mortality. Bathrooms are frequently reported as a major environmental hazard in connection with falls. This serious health risk raises the matter of interior architecture. In terms of preventing falls, more architectural research focuses on interior elements e.g., handrail design, and non-slip mat, whilst less attention is paid to the issue of how ageing causes falls. Therefore, this article sheds light on the normal ageing process through an executive function that helps in the fall prevention of ageing people via decision-making and problem-solving. Normal ageing gradually results in declining executive function, including cognitive and motor functions, which limits and reduces day to day activities. The cognitive function (as a system) involves processing speed, accuracy in response, and error response whereas the motor function (as a mechanism) defines both gross and fine motor functions. A combination of cognitive and motor functions reflects conditions that may lead to a fall. Regarding the executive function, interior architecture for preventing falls in normal ageing people is strongly encouraged e.g., clear layout, timesaving activity, simplicity of design, lighting uniformity, short walking distance, cased opening, lightweight fixtures, and fine texture flooring. This article reviews the literature to address the knowledge gaps between interior architecture and human-centred design through ageing ergonomics, and employs a behaviour-focused aspect to interpret results for interior architects. Electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, were searched to specify appropriate papers, which were restricted to those in the English language. To improve the quality of the elderly’s life, this article provides recommendations that could assist interior architects in this challenge.

Design Perspective of Environmental Interventions through the Stroop Effect, Juggling, and Volunteering for Successful Ageing and Cognitive Health: A Review

“…Attention and decision-making with respect to physical interventions are linked to cognitive function and performance. Past studies reported that attention and decision-making interventions contribute to cognitive health as well as to successful ageing (Chanbenjapipu et al, 2023;Chuangchai & Siripakarn, 2019;Kelly, 2020).…”

“…The ball juggling is correlated to motor coordination, which relies on motor function and performance (Haibach, Daniels, & Newell, 2004). Ageing persons commonly experience a degeneration of motor performance (Chanbenjapipu et al, 2023). Unsurprisingly, ageing persons have slower movement speed and are less smooth in motor performance than younger people since motor performance remains naturally stable throughout young adulthood and diminishes in late adulthood (Boyke, Driemeyer, Gaser, Büchel, & May, 2008;Moustafa, 2014).…”

“…The ball juggling test is an interesting physical intervention that is complex enough to enhance cognitive function and simple enough to engage and perform in daily life for ageing people. Outstanding performance is positively correlated with the use of eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, sensory-motor function, and complex spatial perception of cognitive abilities (Chanbenjapipu et al, 2023). Thus, a good example of successful ageing is a high level of speed and accuracy in decision-making when a juggler is performing (Mapelli et al, 2012).…”

“…Together, a combined process between cognitive (referring to a system) and motor (referring to a mechanism) functions was operated as an executive function, which was involved with the built environment through architectural design by creating safe surroundings that enhanced the quality of the elderly's lives. (Chanbenjapipu et al, 2023). Additionally, inner feelings such as happiness and satisfaction with overall health and life are important in successful ageing (Estebsari et al, 2020).…”

“…There are lines of evidence that interventions related to physical and social environments can have beneficial effects on maintaining and improving cognitive health in ageing people (Cassarinoa & Setti, 2015;Chanbenjapipu, Chuangchai, Thepmalee, & Wonghempoom, 2023). Previous studies indicated that physical interventions (e.g.…”