Research on Spaces in Nursing Institutions for the Aged under Influences of Dementia Nursing Modes: From International Experience to Local Implementation

Abstract

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.

Key words: dementia elderly, nursing facilities, nursing mode, space design

摘要： 我国针对认知症老年人的专业护理服务起步较晚，目前主要借鉴国外成熟的认知症护理模式。由于国内设计者对认知症老年人的行为特征和心理需求研究不足，且对认知症护理特点的认识尚不充分，导致养老机构空间布局往往难以完全满足认知症老年人的实际照料需求。研究对比分析了四种外来认知症护理模式，包括法国和澳大利亚提倡的“蒙台梭利”、荷兰的“失智村”、日本与瑞典的“团体家屋”和美国的“记忆照护单元”的特点，以及实践这些模式的国内外养老机构建筑平面布局和功能空间特征。通过国内外案例分析和实地调研访谈，研究护理行为与空间的关系。研究旨在探索认知症护理环境如何符合中国老年人的需求，推动先进认知症护理理念在环境设计实践中发挥价值。

关键词: 认知症老年人, 护理机构, 护理模式, 空间设计

CLC Number:

TU246

SHEN Lingqiu, ZHU Xiaolei. Research on Spaces in Nursing Institutions for the Aged under Influences of Dementia Nursing Modes: From International Experience to Local Implementation[J]. South Architecture, 2025, 0(6): 107-.

沈伶秋, 朱小雷. 认知症护理模式影响下的养老机构空间研究——从国际经验到本土实践[J]. 南方建筑, 2025, 0(6): 107-.

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