Wang Hongyi, Zhang Ling
Department of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Front Psychol. 2025 Jul 8;16:1608864. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1608864. eCollection 2025.
This study focuses on unit-type nursing homes for older adults as the research subject, investigating and proposing design methodologies for communication activity spaces that enhance social interaction among older adults.
China's aging population issue is intensifying, with the number of older adult on the rise. The total count of older adults with disabilities has surpassed 420,000, comprising 16.6% of the entire aging population. The absence of social interaction in unit-type nursing homes can adversely affect the physical health of older adults.
On-site surveying and mapping of building plans for unit-type nursing homes; Real-time photography of architectural spaces and analysis of spatial design characteristics; Interviews and questionnaire surveys regarding the social needs of older adults; Environmental behavior observation: fixed-point observation of social behaviors and systematic recording of behavioral dynamics among older adults.
A comparative analysis was conducted on the architectural spatial design characteristics of nursing homes with clustered and non clustered architectural spatial layouts. Meanwhile, a comparative analysis was conducted on the social behavior characteristics of older adults living in nursing homes with these two types of architectural spatial composition. Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of architectural design for these two types of space composition in nursing homes. From the perspective of promoting public communication among older adults, propose suitable architectural spatial layout types and communication space optimization design strategies for nursing homes.
The design of living units and small-scale clusters in specialized nursing home should be tailored to the physical health needs of older adults. The architectural space of the nursing home adopts a unit clustered architectural spatial layout type, while the interaction spaces are distributed. This type of building is more conducive to older adults carrying out social activities. It is essential to create a communal communication space within the living unit that embodies an open, family-like atmosphere, serving as the primary venue for both residence and interaction among older adults. Furthermore, urban life functions should be integrated between living units to enhance social communication opportunities for this demographic.
本研究聚焦于老年人单元式养老院这一研究对象，探究并提出增进老年人社交互动的交流活动空间设计方法。
中国人口老龄化问题日益加剧，老年人数量不断增加。残疾老年人总数已超过42万，占老年人口总数的16.6%。单元式养老院中社交互动的缺失会对老年人的身体健康产生不利影响。
对单元式养老院建筑平面图进行现场测绘；对建筑空间进行实时摄影并分析空间设计特征；就老年人的社交需求进行访谈和问卷调查；环境行为观察：对老年人的社交行为进行定点观察并系统记录行为动态。
对具有集中式和非集中式建筑空间布局的养老院的建筑空间设计特征进行了对比分析。同时，对居住在具有这两种建筑空间构成的养老院中的老年人的社会行为特征进行了对比分析。总结这两种类型养老院空间构成的建筑设计优缺点。从促进老年人之间公共交流的角度，为养老院提出合适的建筑空间布局类型和交流空间优化设计策略。
专业养老院的居住单元和小规模集群设计应根据老年人的身体健康需求进行定制。养老院的建筑空间采用单元集中式建筑空间布局类型，同时分布互动空间。这种类型的建筑更有利于老年人开展社交活动。在居住单元内营造一个体现开放、家庭般氛围的公共交流空间至关重要，这是老年人居住和互动的主要场所。此外，应在居住单元之间整合城市生活功能，以增加这一人群的社交交流机会。
