The Role of the Built Environment on the Quality of Life for Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities in Asia: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background and Objectives The quality of the built environmental features in a long-term care (LTC) home significantly influences residents’ functioning (e.g., wayfinding, self-care, and social interaction) and well-being. There is limited research on the characteristics of the built environment of LTC and its influence on residents’ quality of life in countries in Asia-Pacific region (e.g., East Asia, South Asia). The older adult population in this region is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades. There are distinctive perceptions of nursing home, nursing home environment, and socio-cultural norms in this geographic region. Given this context, a better understanding of the built environment of LTC facilities in this region can inform design professionals and policymakers for evidence-based decision-making. The present study undertakes a scoping review of the empirical research on the characteristics and influence of the built environment of LTC facilities on residents’ quality of life in the Asia-Pacific context. Research Design and Methods Online relevant databases were used to identify papers published 2000-2021, from which we selected 33 publications. Results Three substantive themes were generated from the synthesis of the selected publications. These themes are: a) perceptions of nursing home, b) impact of built environment on residents’ quality of life, and c) assessment of the LTC built environment. Discussion and Implications We identified research gaps in understanding the role of the built environment in nursing homes in the particular geographic context, and future research directions. Five planning and design principles for LTC were derived from the synthesis of key findings to inform design professionals and policymakers.

Exploring “Equigenesis” in the Associations Between Green Space and Kidney Health Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Using Street View Data

“…Existing evidence suggests that the built environment plays a significant role in the prevalence of CKD ( McClellan et al, 2012 ). As an important health-related component of the built environment, green space has attracted considerable attention in the literature, as it can be easily addressed through urban planning policy ( Chaudhury & Xu, 2022 ; Liang et al, 2022 ; Liu et al, 2023 ; Lu et al, 2022 ; Park et al, 2021 ; Shen, 2022 ). For example, Liang et al (2022) found that residential greenness was associated with a decreased prevalence of CKD in China.…”