BU researcher secures grant to investigate the link between nursing home architecture and health outcomes – News-Medical

Research Initiative to Advance Sustainable Development Goals in Geriatric Care Through Architectural Design

Introduction: Fostering Health and Sustainable Communities

A research project, “Investigating the Relationship between Nursing Home Architecture and Health Outcomes,” has been awarded a $270,418 grant by the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation. Led by Dr. Diana Anderson of Boston University, the two-year initiative directly addresses key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by exploring how the built environment impacts the health of older adults. This research aligns principally with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by seeking to create healthier, more inclusive living spaces for vulnerable populations.

Project Objectives and SDG Alignment

The project’s primary goal is to bridge a critical knowledge gap concerning the influence of nursing home design on resident outcomes. The objectives are strategically aligned with several SDGs:

• Promote Health and Well-being (SDG 3): The core objective is to examine how evidence-based architectural features, such as walkable layouts and accessible social spaces, are associated with resident-centered health outcomes. This includes ambulation, physical function, and the mitigation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, directly contributing to Target 3.4 (promote mental health and well-being).
• Build Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure (SDG 9 & SDG 11): By developing a novel and replicable strategy to assess building design, the project fosters innovation in healthcare infrastructure. The findings aim to inform the design of future care facilities, making them more inclusive, safe, and supportive, in line with Target 11.7 (provide access to safe and inclusive public spaces for older persons and persons with disabilities).
• Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10): By focusing on improving the quality of life and care for older adults in institutional settings, the research actively works to reduce health inequalities experienced by this demographic.

Methodology and Anticipated Impact

The research will employ a multi-faceted approach to generate robust, actionable data. The methodology is structured to ensure outcomes are practical and contribute to sustainable development practices.

1. Data Generation: Architectural drawings and interviews with nursing home leadership will be used to create archetype data. This captures both the intended design features and the real-world utilization of space by residents, caregivers, and staff.
2. Data Linkage and Analysis: This architectural data will be linked to administrative health data to identify and quantify associations between specific design elements and key health indicators.
3. Contribution to Sustainable Practices: The project’s findings have the potential to translate evidence into practice, informing policy and investment decisions. The Donaghue Foundation noted the research could yield near-term improvements in care delivery and environment design, adding value that supports the long-term goals of sustainable and healthy aging.

Lead Researcher and Institutional Commitment

Dr. Diana Anderson, a board-certified geriatrician and healthcare architect, brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to the project. Her “dochitect” background, combining medicine and architecture, is critical for addressing the complex interplay between health and the built environment.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Evidence-Based Sustainable Development

This grant supports a critical investigation into an often-overlooked factor in public health. By systematically evaluating how nursing home architecture influences resident well-being, the project stands to make a significant contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that environments for older adults are designed not just for shelter, but for health, dignity, and inclusivity.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article is fundamentally about improving health outcomes for older adults in nursing homes. The research project directly investigates the link between the built environment and “resident wellbeing,” “ambulation, physical function and neuropsychiatric symptoms.” This aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on the “design of the places where older adults live,” specifically nursing home architecture. This relates to making human settlements inclusive, safe, and sustainable. The research examines features like “walkable layouts and accessible social spaces,” which are key components of creating accessible and supportive living environments for older persons.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. The research project’s focus on “neuropsychiatric symptoms” and overall “resident wellbeing” directly addresses the promotion of mental health. Furthermore, improving “ambulation” and “physical function” through better design can help prevent complications from chronic diseases common in older adults.
  • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. The article highlights that the project addresses a “critical yet often overlooked factor in care quality.” By investigating how architecture can “improve care delivery,” the research contributes to enhancing the quality of essential healthcare services for residents of nursing homes.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. Nursing homes are a form of housing with integrated services for older adults. The project aims to improve the adequacy and safety of this housing by establishing evidence-based design principles that support residents’ health, making the living environment more suitable for their needs.
  • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The research explicitly examines “evidence-based features (such as walkable layouts and accessible social spaces)” within nursing homes. This directly aligns with the target of providing accessible spaces for older persons to improve their mobility and social interaction.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  • Health Outcome Data: The article states the project will link design information to “administrative data to examine associations” with specific health outcomes. These outcomes serve as direct indicators:
    • Measures of ambulation
    • Measures of physical function
    • Incidence and severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms
  • Care Quality Metrics: The article mentions the project addresses “care quality.” While not specifying a metric, improvements in the health outcomes listed above would serve as an indicator of higher quality care delivery influenced by the environment.
• For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
  • Architectural and Design Data: The project will “generate archetype data that captures both design features and real-world space.” This data itself serves as an indicator of the built environment’s quality. Specific indicators mentioned include:
    • Presence and characteristics of “walkable layouts”
    • Availability and accessibility of “social spaces”
    • Analysis of “architectural drawings” to codify design features

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news-medical.net