Design as a Rehabilitative Tool for People with Acquired Brain Injury: Mapping the Field

Abstract

People live their lives in an ongoing relationship with the physical environment. In the following review, a range of factors which may influence the design and construction as well as the occupation of an environmental setting for people with acquired brain injury (ABI), are described. During a person's rehabilitation, the environment may support his or her protection, while simultaneously promoting independence and learning. In a discussion regarding the design of built environments for people with ABI, medical, or allied health perspectives usually dominate. To design settings that support these objectives, the designer perspectives, be they interior, architectural, or landscape, must be identified. Typically, designers and architects do not adopt a linear approach to creating environments, but rather they integrate what Nigel Cross calls a designerly way of knowing. A designer-stance may broaden possibilities while supporting the appropriate models of care or philosophy of rehabilitation. The aim of this review is to map and summarize the breadth of current literature that involves or could inform the design of facilities for people with ABI. Such a review is necessary to consolidate what is known, in order to build upon it. The overall aim is to inform design professionals of the breadth of considerations when designing for people with ABI. In addition, it will inform managers, carers and allied health professionals of current understandings. Conceptualizations from different disciplinary perspectives of designing for rehabilitation of people with ABI are discussed.

Safe and Supportive Neurorehabilitation Environments: Results of a Structured Observation of Physical Features Across Two Rehabilitation Facilities

“…These elements can be achieved through a number of ways, including providing access to private spaces, increased personalization, and control, provision of spaces which encourage families to visit more often or for longer periods of time, seating that encourages social interactions, and access to or views of nature (Ulrich, 1992). Despite these earlier reports, there remains limited available evidence to promote inclusion of these elemental features in the interior design of neurotrauma rehabilitation units (see Smith, & Macdonald, 2015, for an insightful design analysis).…”

Feeling WELL: COVID-19 and the Adoption of Wellness Themes in Interior Design Curricula

“…This was the only study published in JID that emphasized the WELL Building Standard and described pedagogical implementation. Within the other investigations, wellness and well-being were examined in relation to: design objectives for specific population groups, such as older adults (Campbell, 2014; Kim et al, 2014); lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors (Matthews et al, 2017); people living with brain injury (Smith & Macdonald, 2015); and college students diagnosed with autism (Tackx et al, 2022). Design applications were also addressed in the realms of biophilic design (McGee et al, 2019), student sleep health (King et al, 2019), and professional design practice (e.g., Gale et al, 2017; Huber, 2021).…”