Department of Primary Care & Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 8;19(12):7025. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19127025.
Care home residents are often passive and lack active engagement in meaningful activities. The aim of this qualitative study was to co-develop a plan for a meaningful garden space in an urban care home in the north of England, to inform the subsequent building of such a garden space on the care home premises. Members of staff participated in focus groups conducted at the care home. Family carers were interviewed by telephone. Both focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, with transcripts analysed independently using thematic analysis by two researchers, and consensus achieved on final themes. Two focus groups with staff (n = 17) and seven interviews with family carers were held. Thematic analysis generated seven key themes for the garden about its meaning and environmental features: (1) Current opinions on physical environment; (2) access; (3) adaptation to the environment; (4) staffing; (5) socialising; (6) sensory features; and (7) active meaningful participation. The garden needed to be accessible to residents in wheelchairs, and in all weathers and seasonal conditions, as well as being adapted to the needs of people living with dementia. Areas for social activities, such as picnics, and intergenerational activities, as well as private spaces, were recommended. Throughout the garden, sensory features were suggested, incorporating the use of vision, smell, touch, and sound, such as through water features. Moreover, it was recommended that residents should be able to contribute to the delivery of the activities themselves, including through a café and a vegetable garden. Family carers and staff considered that the garden would benefit from an intensive update to meet the needs of residents. This study therefore has practical implications for care home design, which are of even greater importance since the pandemic, as outdoor spaces were considered safer for care home visiting.
养老院的居民通常较为被动，缺乏对有意义活动的积极参与。本定性研究旨在共同制定英格兰北部城市养老院有意义花园空间的规划，为随后在养老院场地内建造这样的花园空间提供信息。工作人员参加了在养老院进行的焦点小组讨论。家庭护理员通过电话接受了采访。焦点小组和访谈均进行了录音，两名研究人员分别使用主题分析法对转录本进行独立分析，并就最终主题达成共识。共进行了两次工作人员焦点小组（n=17）和七次家庭护理员电话访谈。主题分析生成了花园的七个关键主题，涉及其意义和环境特征：（1）对物理环境的当前看法；（2）进入途径；（3）适应环境；（4）人员配备；（5）社交；（6）感官特征；和（7）积极有意义的参与。花园需要让坐轮椅的居民以及在各种天气和季节条件下都能进入，并且需要适应患有痴呆症的人的需求。建议设立社交活动区，如野餐区和代际活动区，以及私人空间。在整个花园中，建议采用感官特征，例如通过水景观等方式融入视觉、嗅觉、触觉和声音。此外，建议居民能够自己参与活动的提供，包括通过咖啡馆和蔬菜园。家庭护理员和工作人员认为，花园需要进行密集更新，以满足居民的需求。因此，这项研究对养老院设计具有实际意义，尤其是在大流行之后，因为户外空间被认为对养老院探访更安全。
