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 long-term care (LTC) homes 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 the Asia–Pacific region (e.g., East Asia and 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 environments, and sociocultural 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 articles 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 the 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.