Study on the Design Strategy of Rehabilitation Space for Patients with Cognitive Disorders Based on the Environmental Adaptation of Disease Symptoms

Abstract

Under the dual pressure of the large number of patients and the funding of expensive treatments, the established medical model is no longer able to meet the treatment needs of patients with cognitive disorders. Cognitive disorders cannot be cured, and the proposed MCI stage provides a window of opportunity for early intervention of the condition. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a high-risk potential conversion state prior to a diagnosis of cognitive disorder, where the person still has the ability to live but with the presence of cognitive damage. The theory of environment-facilitated rehabilitation has begun to be applied to the study of cognitive disorders prevention, but its effectiveness and the drivers of its pathological characteristics remain unclear. In this paper, we explore spatial design strategies for the rehabilitation of patients with cognitive disorders based on the adaptability of pathological characteristics, and provide new ideas for spatial interventions to prevent the condition. Firstly, this paper constructs the relationship between behavioral characteristics (roaming), pathological characteristics (cognitive impairment), and environmental factors interacting with cognitive disorder patients. Second, the feasibility of spatial design to assist the rehabilitation of the condition was demonstrated by analyzing spatial accessibility, visual visibility, and walking distance using the environmental modification of Yuexiu Elderly Service Center in Guangzhou as an example. The study concludes that environmental influences to improve the quality of rehabilitation and cognitive function are effective, mainly in the improvement of spatial communication depth and care efficiency variables.

A new perspective on cognitive rehabilitation: layout design methods for wandering behavior in dementia patients

“…This article corroborates the aforementioned observation through an analysis of spatial layout and visual sharing in a dementia rehabilitation center, as well as simulations of human traffic routes. Furthermore, Li et al [60] introduced walking distance as an environmental variable and suggested an optimal layout form. The case layout employed in this study bears resemblance to the one proposed by Li, which centers around a main care station and incorporates multiple tiered nurse stations for collaborative management in a multi-core radial configuration.…”