Outdoor Environment for Aging with Dementia in Long-term Care Facilities, Bangkok Metropolis

Abstract

The research aims to establish a criteria of appropriate outdoor environment for aging with dementia in long-term care facilities. A survey research was conducted through the survey of three long-term facilities in Bangkok: the investigation on existing condition of the outdoor environment, the observation of users’ behavior, and the interview of aging with dementia. The research findings revolve around five environmental characteristics under investigation: safety, support independence, response to dementia, support activities, and maintenance. The research reveals that all cases studies are not appropriate for the use by those aging with dementia. The support independence, the response to dementia and the support activities shows mean scores lower by the criteria of appropriate physical characteristic. The behavior mapping shows that most of the activities occurred at the semi-outdoor area rather than the outdoor area, while difficult accessibility is the main reason for the patients’ refusal to use outdoor area. The interview result indicates that most of the aging with dementia prefer well-shaded outdoor area. Finally, the positive attitude of caregivers and the policies of the administrators affect the use and the development of appropriate outdoor environment.