Sustainable Architecture, Structures, and Mental Health: Designing Elderly Care Centers with a Focus on Psychotherapy Principles to Enhance Well-being and Comfort

Abstract

With the increasing population of elderly individuals in various societies, there is a strong need to create suitable living spaces for this age group to ensure a calm and healthy lifestyle. Elderly care centers, as social and caregiving institutions, play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for older adults. Despite numerous designs and constructions of these facilities, many fail to meet the psychological and social needs of the elderly. This research, focusing on sustainable architecture, examines the structures of elderly care centers and their psychological and social impacts. The goal of this study is to provide solutions for designing caregiving homes that not only meet essential needs but also align with the psychological and social characteristics of older adults. Paying attention to factors such as light, form, color, ventilation, and visual appeal in the design of these spaces can enhance the living conditions of the elderly and improve their sense of calm and well-being. This article, with an innovative approach, explores the connection between environmental psychology and sustainable architectural creativity in the design of elderly care centers. The research was conducted qualitatively, with data collected through library studies, questionnaires, and interviews. The results indicate that architecturally sustainable designs tailored to the psychological and social needs of the elderly can improve the quality of living spaces and enhance their psychological and social well-being.