How does spatial organisation of gardens at care facilities for the elderly influence use patterns: a case study in Hong Kong

Abstract

Ageing has received broad attention worldwide. Gardens for the elderly have also received increasing attention as they have been revealed to be beneficial to the elderly’s well-being and quality of life. Based on existing design guidelines for such gardens, the influence of different spatial organisation on use patterns needs further study and discussion. In this article, one garden at a care facility for the elderly was studied through total site factor measurement, resident and staff interviews, along with observations. As indicated by the results and discussions, topographic level changes are found to be more influential than distance and shade. Enclosure of space is also influential on the pattern of use, but needs to be applied carefully for safety concerns. Management is also found to be a flexible and cost-effective approach to modify spatial organisation and further alter use patterns in the garden.

Keywords:

• Care facility for the elderly
• garden
• spatial organisation
• use pattern

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Wong Chuk Hang Complex, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (WCHC), especially Ms. Eppie Wan and Ms. Alice Leung for their great support and participation. The authors also thank Prof. Lau S. Y. Stephen for his generous support on this project, and thank Ms. Xue Fei, Ms. Sun Xiao Nuan and Ms. Misbah Bibi for their help on data collection.