The Seniors' Outdoor Survey (SOS Tool): A Proposed Weighting and Scoring Framework to Assess Outdoor Environments in Residential Care Settings |
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| Authors: | Eric Bardenhagen Susan Rodiek Adeleh Nejati Chanam Lee |
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| Institution: | 1. Landscape Architecture &2. Urban Planning, Texas A and M University System, College Station, Texas, USA;3. HOK, San Francisco, California, USA |
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| Abstract: | Spending time outdoors offers substantial health benefits for older adults. However, in long-term care settings, outdoor areas may fail to adequately support elderly residents' needs and preferences. The Seniors' Outdoor Survey (SOS Tool) was recently developed to help users evaluate outdoor areas and indoor–outdoor connections in residential facilities for seniors, by rating 60 environmental features on a 1–7 scale. This article proposes a weighting strategy to approximate the relative importance of different items on the tool, according to their potential level of support for resident usage and preferences. A standardized scoring system will allow multiple stakeholders to apply the results to research, design, construction, and renovation projects. |
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| Keywords: | Aging environmental assessment landscape design older adults residential long-term care |
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