The Impact of Architectural Design, Surroundings, Employee Work Satisfaction and Desired Interaction on the Wellbeing of Residents and Caregivers of a Dementia-Friendly Healthcare Complex.

This research investigated the impact of architectural design, environmental surroundings, employee work satisfaction and desired interaction on the wellbeing of residents with dementia and caregivers in a healthcare complex named the Zuidoever. It was expected that there is a positive association between living and working at the Zuidoever and wellbeing, facilitated by design elements. The architectural design was expected to contribute to a pleasant work environment by facilitating employee work satisfaction, and increased desired interaction to increase wellbeing. The study was a qualitative study design, with quantitative elements. Quantitative data were collected via questionnaires for employees and residents, measuring work satisfaction, desired interaction and quality of life. Qualitative data was collected through location visits where a more global image of the Zuidoever’s design could be constructed, with additional data from interviews, observations and activity...Show moreThis research investigated the impact of architectural design, environmental surroundings, employee work satisfaction and desired interaction on the wellbeing of residents with dementia and caregivers in a healthcare complex named the Zuidoever. It was expected that there is a positive association between living and working at the Zuidoever and wellbeing, facilitated by design elements. The architectural design was expected to contribute to a pleasant work environment by facilitating employee work satisfaction, and increased desired interaction to increase wellbeing. The study was a qualitative study design, with quantitative elements. Quantitative data were collected via questionnaires for employees and residents, measuring work satisfaction, desired interaction and quality of life. Qualitative data was collected through location visits where a more global image of the Zuidoever’s design could be constructed, with additional data from interviews, observations and activity participation on site. Data were collected from N = 36 employees and N = 16 residents. The results indicate that the Zuidoever’s design - characterized by natural elements, creating a homelike feeling, and open communal spaces - supports wayfinding, reduces stressors, and promotes desired interaction. Employees reported an overall pleasant way of working, resulting in positive perceived work satisfaction. Data from the residents indicated a general positive picture regarding their wellbeing and enjoyment of living at the Zuidoever, which also seemed to connect to the design of the building. This study was limited by having a small sample size and no control condition, which made it difficult to draw strong conclusions. However, the findings do contribute to a growing body of evidence that architectural design can in fact influence the experience of individuals with dementia, as well as employees. Future research should explore these effects further, on a larger scale and in different healthcare settings.Show less

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The Impact of Architectural Design, Surroundings, Employee Work Satisfaction and Desired Interaction on the Wellbeing of Residents and Caregivers of a Dementia-Friendly Healthcare Complex.