A Study on Behavioral Characteristics and the Scale of Activities in Day Service Centers for the Elderly in Taiwan: A Case-study of Two Mixed-care Type Day Service Centers

Szu-Yu Tzeng
2011 Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering  
This study applies behavior setting theory, and conducts an observation survey at ten-minute intervals of behavior mapping records by tracing the behavioral contents, interaction conditions and activity types of the elderly, trying to break down behavioral characteristics and an activity scale into two mixed-care day service centers (DSCs). Remarkable behavioral characteristics noted are as follows: Participants have various interests, particularly some less frail elderly whose interaction
more » ... rns are regarded as "active", and they are not satisfied with staying in one limited space all day long and require diverse activities. Participants with dementia, however, have interaction patterns that are "passive" and are often in a daze and do nothing when activities are held, showing a requirement for a place for wandering. Five items are presented as suggestions for the design of a mixed-care DSC: (1) Reducing the distance between user spaces when planning floor layouts; (2) Considering and offering the possibility of different activities and an activity scale held at the same time in the day room; (3) Designing in a manner that answers the need for wandering; (4) Providing ample and barrier-free spaces in corridors, passages and the courtyards, and (5) Providing plural toilets with easy access.
doi:10.3130/jaabe.10.53 fatcat:roh6b6webzh6baposcorfzoxpa