Effects of Environmental Changes on Elderly Residents' Behavior

Members of an interdisciplinary design group, funded to conduct ongoing research in state psychiatric facilities, developed a process by which a seven-year-old facility for geriatric patients could be better adapted to meet users' and program needs. The facility, considered good by many standards, had been planned on a "motel model" more suitable for transient occupancy than for providing opportunities for interaction, communication, stimulation, and challenging roles. Randomly selected residents and staff were involved in making decisions about design changes, which focused on rearranging and remodeling day-rooms to increase interaction. The controlled research design, involving baseline and follow-up evaluations, indicated that measurable, positive changes in residents' behavior occurred, especially among residents who took part in decision-making about the environmental changes.