Research on Spaces in Nursing Institutions for the Aged under Influences of Dementia Nursing Modes:From International Experience to Local Implementation
SHEN Lingqiu
ZHU Xiaolei
Abstract：Because of the intensification of social aging in China,the demand for nursing services for people with dementia is experiencing a corresponding surge.Nursing services for older people with dementia in China started relatively late,and there is a notable gap in theoretical frameworks and practical implementations compared with developed countries.At present,China mainly learns the mature nursing modes in foreign countries.However,the spatial layout of nursing institutions for the aged cannot meet actual nursing demands for the aged with dementia.Designers undervalue their behavioral characteristics and psychological needs and have an incomplete understanding of the uniqueness of dementia nursing.Relevant studies mainly focus on exploring design paths for dementia nursing environments with Chinese characteristics and promoting local implementation of advanced nursing philosophy by reviewing mature nursing philosophy and spatial design experiences at home and abroad.However,research results can provide references to future environmental design for nursing institutions.Hence,four mature dementia nursing modes of the"Montessori"mode advocated in France and Australia,the"Dementia Village"in the Netherlands,"Group Homes"in Japan and Sweden,and"Memory Care Units"in the United States were analyzed thoroughly.Their nursing characteristics and core philosophies were compared systematically.Moreover,the effects of these modes on spatial construction practices and nursing service practices in nursing institutions for the aged were discussed.
Based on the demands of two major users-the elderly people with dementia and nurses-this study carried out a comparative analysis of architectural plane layout and functional spatial characteristics of eight nursing institutions at home and abroad from the perspective of daily life scenes and working process through field survey of space usage and interviews with nursing staff.Key attention was paid to the correlation mechanism of nursing philosophy,nursing behaviors,and spatial design.This study disclosed the following prominent problems,which are common in domestic institutions:insufficient matching between public activity space and nursing mode,functional configuration ignoring demands for entertainment and rehabilitation,absent construction of environment for social communication,and shortage of nursing staff.These problems restrict the improvement of patients' quality of life and intensify the working pressure on nursing staff.Hence,specific improvement strategies were proposed based on practice experiences of four mature nursing modes:(1)an"environment-behavior"interaction mechanism was built to improve the independence of older people;(2)the micro-scene design of life details was reproduced;(3)the open public space was retained to promote older people's social communication frequency;and(4)nursing efficiency was optimized through the spatial layout.
Construction of a dementia nursing environment not only means constructing the physical space but also a deep response to the psychological needs and nursing logics of the aged.The quality of life of older people with dementia can be improved effectively by optimizing spatial layout,improving nursing efficiency,perfecting the working environment,strengthening social communication support,and psychological health intervention,thus promoting the overall development of the elderly nursing industry.
Keywords：dementia elderlynursing facilitiesnursing modespace design
Publication Date：2025-06-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 107-115 )