Exploring the Concept of Healing Spaces

Abstract

Evidence-based design (EBD) research has demonstrated the power of environmental design to support improved patient, family, and staff outcomes and to minimize or avoid harm in healthcare settings. While healthcare has primarily focused on fixing the body, there is a growing recognition that our healthcare system could do more by promoting overall wellness, and this requires expanding the focus to healing. This article explores how we can extend what we know from EBD about health impacts of spatial design to the more elusive goal of healing. By breaking the concept of healing into antecedent components (emotional, psychological, social, behavioral, and functional), this review of the literature presents the existing evidence to identify how healthcare spaces can foster healing. The environmental variables found to directly affect or facilitate one or more dimension of healing were organized into six groups of variables-homelike environment, access to views and nature, light, noise control, barrier-free environment, and room layout. While there is limited scientific research confirming design solutions for creating healing spaces, the literature search revealed relationships that provide a basis for a draft definition. Healing spaces evoke a sense of cohesion of the mind, body, and spirit. They support healing intention and foster healing relationships.

Family members´ experiences of the end-of-life care environments in acute care settings – a photo-elicitation study

“…There is a broad literature on evidence-based hospital design and healing spaces in a variety of health care settings (e.g., DuBose, MacAllister, Hadi, & Sakallaris, 2018; Fröst & Hammarling, 2017; Maben et al, 2015). Numerous efforts have been made to study patient and staff outcomes in relation to specific design characteristics or interventions, including room occupancy (e.g., Maben et al, 2016), the acoustic environment (e.g., Shield, Shiers, & Glanville, 2016), visual contact with nature/landscapes (e.g., Ulrich, 1979), sound and lighting (e.g., Voigt et al, 2017), ergonomic design (e.g., Knibbe & Waaijer, 2012), and the work environment (e.g., Lee & Scott, 2018).…”

Co-design of a supportive movement/dance program with Body Brave for individuals affected by eating disorders

“…19 Environmental Considerations for Mental Health The environment plays a key role in supporting mental health and well-being, as well as facilitating healing. 20,21 Adding elements of nature to living spaces may have positive effects on stress, health, and well-being. 20 Similarly, healthcare environments that are home-like, provide access to views of nature and to natural light, control noise, and are barrier-free, may promote healing.…”

“…20 Similarly, healthcare environments that are home-like, provide access to views of nature and to natural light, control noise, and are barrier-free, may promote healing. 21…”

Becoming a nomad when hospitalized with a neurological disease: a phenomenological study

“…Such studies have focused on the physical environment, exploring the effect of different environmental elements in the hospital on patients’ wellbeing (Høybye, 2013 ). However, although care has focused primarily on repairing physical issues, recognition is growing that the healthcare system could do more by promoting overall wellness, which requires expanding the focus to healing (Dubose et al, 2018 ).…”