BATAAN PENINSULA STATE UNIVERSITY

Main Campus, College of Engineering and Architecture

Capitol Drive, Capitol Compound, Balanga City 2100, Bataan

Promoting Comfort and Well-being Across Elderly’s Health and Lifespan: Assessing the
Effectiveness of Structural Condition of Bahay Puso Nursing Home in Balanga, Bataan

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Bachelor of Science in Architecture for the Course
Research Methods for Architecture, AY 2023-2024

Student:
RABANO, JERVIE MAE G.

Program, Year and Section:

BS ARCHITECTURE, 4TH YEAR B

Date:
(March 14, 2023)
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

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 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In the last 25 years, federal and state regulatory bodies have implemented a
number of guidelines and procedures to raise the standard of care given to residents of
nursing homes. Numerous rules that have been put in place have altered and enhanced
care for residents. Nowadays, most nursing facilities provide a degree of "safe care"
(Normoyle & Biedenharn, 2016). Outside of a hospital, a nursing home often offers the
best standard of care for elderly patients. Custodial care, which includes assistance with
eating, washing, dressing, and getting in and out of bed, is offered by nursing homes. But
one thing that sets nursing homes apart from other senior housing options is that they also
offer top-notch medical care. Every patient's treatment is overseen by a licensed
physician, and a nurse or other medical expert is nearly always present on the premises.
On-site skilled nursing care is typically available around-the-clock. There are additional
medical specialists on hand as well, such physical or occupational therapists. This makes
it feasible to provide treatments and medical operations on the spot that would not be
feasible in alternative homes.

In addition, the number of people 65 and older has increased globally, a trend that
can be linked to a number of reasons, including better health care and advancements in
contemporary medicine. Mortality rates have dropped as a result of this. According to
WHO demographic forecasts from 2002, there will be about 1.2 billion older persons in the
world by 2025. Another estimate puts the number of old people by 2050 at two billion.
These forecasts have sparked a wave of new age-related study and discussion.
Numerous academic fields have studied aging from biological, sociological, and
psychological perspectives and created models to enhance our comprehension of the
aging process. Because they spend so much time inside their houses, elderly residents of

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residential and nursing care facilities may rely on their surroundings to make up for any
physical or mental limitations they may have. Over time, regulations and rules on the
design of care buildings have been developed, with little consideration given to how they
may affect the quality of life for building occupants.

According to the guidelines of Medicare/Medicaid, 2016, nursing homes, or

portions of them, are frequently divided into intermediate and skilled nursing units. While
skilled nursing facilities must fulfill more stringent medical requirements to be eligible for
both Medicare and Medicaid assistance, intermediate-care facilities only provide enough
nursing care to meet Medicaid requirements. Alzheimer's disease (ASD) units usually
accommodate the cognitively handicapped in separate rooms. The influence of
surroundings on healing is inherent in every institutional stay, and it is amplified
significantly in nursing home residents due to their extended stays. The goal of the nursing
home and the type of patients that reside there must be well understood by the architect
and interior designer. The design must pay particular attention to how aging causes
physical and mental impairments, such as diminished vision.

In Switzerland, according to Mnea and Zairul, 2019 “inadequate housing conditions

are one of the mechanisms through which social and environmental inequality translates
into health inequality, which further affects the quality of life and well-being," the World
Health Organization (WHO) stated in the Housing and Health Guidelines study. The
majority of persons living in inappropriate housing are low-income individuals, women,
people of color, single-parent households, older people with functional impairments, and
those on minimum wages, all of whom are vulnerable to injustice and inequality. An aging
population has many housing-related issues. There is an urgent need to better understand
and accommodate the varied housing needs of senior citizens. To avoid having to
redesign a home as a person age or their lifestyle changes, it is essential to have an
affordable and inclusive home design.

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 Unfortunately, a growing number of senior citizens are currently transferred by their
significant others and youngsters to the institutional facilities for a variety of intricate
private causes. Consequently, the onus of providing care for the elderly now falls on senior
living facilities and their staff. Therefore, in order to satisfy their clientele's requests, an
upgrade becomes necessary. But standardization in senior care facilities in the Philippines
is still lacking, which presents a significant obstacle to aspiring gerontologists. There isn’t
many published research in the area that examine the physical structure of nursing home
facilities. In light of this new problem, it is imperative to assess the quality of senior living
facilities based on their true-to-life experiences. The Philippines' nursing home industry
appears to have a brighter future due to the country's expanding middle-aged and elderly
population. Furthermore, according to Daubenbuechel, 2022 a German geriatric-care
specialist, he claims that the family-oriented culture of the Filipino people prevents them
from realizing their full potential. The Philippines was predicted to have 7 million senior
persons. Approximately 90% of this population does not receive adequate care. These
percentages were predicted to grow from 8% to 16% in 2020. On top of that, nursing
homes must meet the following requirements for senior citizens: cozy accommodations;
enough food and clothing; health care; medical consultation or treatment; employment
opportunities; social and recreational interaction; counseling; case conferences; family
discussions; outreach to current family members for reintegration; literacy instruction;
productivity enhancement; and religious, cultural, and occupational activities.

A few nursing homes in Bataan are still in operation today. One of them is the
Bahay Puso, which is situated in Balanga, Bataan. Up to 40 elderly people can be housed
in Bahay Puso, a home for the sick and abandoned; as of right now, 32 senior citizens
have official registration with the foundation. Bahay Puso is located in Sitio Mathay, Upper
Tuyo, Balanga City, Bataan. It has an 8,000 square meter estimated total lot area.

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1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Poor indoor environmental quality is more likely to affect the elderly population. In
comparison to the average population, they also spend a greater percentage of their time
indoors, which increases the health hazards. Prior to being admitted to a nursing home,
elderly individuals ought to be allowed to maintain their way of life (Verbeek, 2016). As a
result, a number of healthcare organizations work to give their inhabitants living
arrangements that emphasize "the good life" and foster an atmosphere more like a home
than a medical center (Dijck-Heinen et al., 2014). It's difficult to provide both quality
(clinical) care and a cozy atmosphere. Prioritizing health and safety needs might lead to
risk-averse surroundings that lower residents' quality of life in assisted living facilities. On
the other hand, studies have demonstrated that, in addition to psychological and social
aspects, a nursing home's architecture and design can significantly affect the elderly
residents' feeling of home. Providing older residents with supportive and resident-centered
care requires careful consideration of the physical surroundings of residential health, care,
and support institutions. A systematic literature review that encompasses the variety of
settings and people has been lacking, despite previous studies of the literature focusing
on certain residential populations or settings for the elderly.

Main Problem
The growing senior population is currently a health concern global
predicament, especially in the province of Bataan. As time goes on, as the
population doubles annually, there is an increasing need for proper care and
complex health issues since their fragility and susceptibility to illness and damage
increased with age. To summarized, is there any significance effect between the
structural condition of Bahay Puso Nursing Home when it comes to the elderlies’
improved health and longer lifespan?

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 Sub Problems

• What are the impacts of the structural state of the Bahay Puso nursing
home in Balanga, Bataan have on the senior patients' better health and
longer lifespans?
• How are nursing facilities' structures must well-maintained, which can
contribute to improved care for the elderly?
• Is the Bahay Puso nursing home facility in Balanga, Bataan large enough
to offer superior care for the increasing number of elderly residents?
• What are the specific structural features of Bahay Puso that contribute to
health issues in the elderly population.
• How does usability of the living environment affect physical activity and
mobility of older adults?
• Is there a significant relationship between structural conditions of Bahay
Puso and health in the elderly?

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study provides information on how the Bahay Puso Nursing Home's structural

condition can impact the elderly population's increased lifespan and better health, which

can help the following individuals or organizations.

Significance to end – users

The end - users portray the elderly residents and staff of the Bahay Puso
nursing home. Based on the research that has been done, living in a healthier
environment for the elderly can improve their mental and physical health as
well as their cognitive function. It is important for an elderly person to live out
their golden years in the security, comfort, and familiarity of their own home.
Their memory and cognitive abilities, as well as their emotional well-being, are
greatly enhanced by this.

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 Significance to the Local Government

This study can be advantageous to the local government or municipality.

This can assist the government in knowing what needs to be prioritized in terms
of the state of nursing homes' structural integrity.

Significance to the Future Researchers

This study will be helpful to students in their research techniques course
who are working on similar or related research projects as a reference for the
specified topic.

1.4 GOALS AND OBJECTIVE

This study's development aims to take into account and rank the requirements with
relation to the structural conditions of several nursing homes, most likely the Bahay Puso
nursing home in Balanga, Bataan.

Goal

The study sought to determine whether a particular nursing home which is

the Bahay Puso located at Balanga City, Bataan Philippines is employing a high-
quality facility design that takes into account the available quotations from
standards that has an impact on the health and lifespan of the elderly patients.
Additionally, this specifically aimed to address the following questions: (1) the
impacts of the structural state of the Bahay Puso nursing home in Balanga, Bataan
have on the senior patients' better health and longer lifespans; (2) How are nursing
facilities' structures must well-maintained, which can contribute to improved care
for the elderly; and (3) Is the Bahay Puso nursing home facility in Balanga, Bataan
large enough to offer superior care for the increasing number of elderly residents

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 Objectives:

• To provide knowledge about the requirements of the elderly about the

architectural state of nursing facilities.
• To give further research on the effects of nursing home building conditions
on the better health and longer lifespan of the elderly.

1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study offers facts and insights into the effects of the building condition of
Bahay Puso in Balanga, Bataan on the lifespan and better health of its older citizens.

Scopes

This research study examines the various effects of the structural condition
of Bahay Puso in Balanga, Bataan on the older residents' better health and longer
lifespan. Opportunities to learn more about the subject matter and develop a
conceptual understanding of the qualitative approach about building
characteristics and their effects on nursing home residents will be provided by this
architectural research.

Delimitations:

• Load analysis and structural design

• Calculating various architectural details
• Design example for a nursing home's architecture that will benefit the
elderly more.

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1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

For long-term, non-acute illnesses, nursing homes provide preventive, therapeutic,

and rehabilitative nursing care services to their patients. One can access specialized
clinical and diagnostic services outside of a nursing home. Although many of the elderly
and weak patients use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, they are not bedridden. Most stay
for life, and stays are rather extended. Additionally, a lower proportion of convalescent
patients of all ages receive care in nursing facilities. These individuals no longer need to
be hospitalized because they are recovering from acute illnesses over the long term.

As a result, this study discovered that a nursing home's sense of home can be
enhanced by the architectural environment, both theoretically and from a user-centered
perspective. The study offers a fresh and trustworthy summary of the effects of
architectural approach and design on fostering a feeling of home in assisted to the elderly
patient’s health and lifespan. The link to the outside world, the caliber of the furniture, and
the room's architectural design all contribute to the feeling of home for the elderlies. To
show how the architectural themes are operationalized and to establish a connection
between the two data sets in architectural practice. Building analysis to the nursing homes
encourages dialogue and education on the role that architectural elements play in
facilitating access to great healthcare and enhancing the quality of life in old age.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND CONCEPTS

Nursing Homes - a facility for elderlies who are unable to receive care at home but do

not require hospitalization. The majority of nursing facilities have licensed nurses and

nursing assistants on duty around-the-clock.

Elderly Population - those who are over 65. The total number of youth and old people

expressed as a percentage of the total population is used to compute the share of the

dependent population.

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Structural Condition Assessment - the procedure for gathering information and facts

and applying it methodically to appraise and determine the state of an existing structure.

Health - a state that encompasses all aspects of health—mental, physical, and social—

rather than just the absence of illness or disability.

Lifespan - the typical average of life of a species of organism or a material object,

particularly in a certain habitat or under particular conditions.

WHO - World Health Organization

ASD - Alzheimer's Disease

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