Therapeutic environments for older adults: constituents and meanings

This article presents the findings of a study that aimed to describe what constitutes therapeutic environments and interpret what it means to be in such environments for older adults. Interview and observational data collected in Swedish health care contexts were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The findings describe therapeutic environments as being constituted by three interacting and interwoven categories: the physical environment, people's doing and being in the environment, and an organizational philosophy of care. The findings are interpreted in light of the existential philosophy of home as a concept, a place, and an existential experience, highlighting that therapeutic environments can support existential at-homeness among patients. The findings of this study can contribute to nursing practice by providing a conceptual basis for reflecting on and evaluating how the physical environment, staff's doing and being, and the organizational philosophy of care cooperate to support well-being among older adults living in long-term care facilities.