Exploring multisensory biophilic design as a salutogenic intervention to enhance mood of older adults with dementia

Abstract

This thesis investigates the impact of biophilic design, using nature-based interventions such as indoor plants, daylight, ambient nature sounds, and nature’s imagery, as a salutogenic approach on the mood of older adults with dementia in daycare settings. The study took place in the activity room of Alzheimer’s Pakistan’s daycare center in Lahore, Pakistan. The study used a mixed-methods design with ten experimental conditions combining environmental conditions (indoor plants, daylight, ambient nature sounds and nature’s imagery) and task performance (regular vs. nature-based activities). The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Scale (AD-RD) was used to gather baseline mood profiles, followed by the Smiley Faces Mood Assessment Scale (SFAS) administered to gather pre-post activity mood outcomes of participants with dementia (n = 9), in each experimental condition. Although quantitative differences were not statistically significant, conditions that included natural elements and nature-based activity showed more positive mood trends than baseline settings. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with healthcare staff and caregivers indicating that individual differences, sensory and cognitive decline, and uncontrolled environmental factors influenced participants’ mood. The study suggests that low-cost, nature-based, biophilic interventions can be integrated into dementia daycare environments to support the mood and well-being of older adults with dementia.