Research Margo Annemans

Abstract

Interacting with the outdoor environment has a positive impact on people's physical and mental health and well-being. Nevertheless, (health)care facilities are usually not designed for patients, residents, visitors, and staff to fully benefit from the opportunity to experience and use the outdoor environment. Physical, mental, and organisational obstacles impact on their interaction with the outdoor environment. These obstacles often relate to the design of in- and outdoor interior spaces, with the term "interior" referring to "with building qualities related to human dimensions and conditions." Those involved in designing interior spaces thus hold a major responsibility in creating them in such a way that they benefits patients', residents', visitors' and staff's health and well-being. A combination of design concepts that highlight the role of interior spaces in supporting patients', residents', visitors', and staff's interaction with the outdoor environment, and strategies on how to implement these concepts in designing healthcare facilities is needed. Therefore, this project aims to investigate how to design (health)care facilities' in- and outdoor interior spaces to allow patients, residents, visitors, and staff to optimally benefit from the outdoor environment, and as such to contribute to their physical and mental health and well-being. Following a design anthropology approach, the project connects the past, present, and future in a process of attuning people and environments. Past and present cases of (health)care facility that realised specific in- and outdoor interior spaces to improve patients', residents', visitors', and staff's interaction with the facility's outdoor environment, are studied through ethnography- and design-based methods. The cases on designs realised in the past will result in theoretical insights into how patients, residents, visitors, and staff experience and use in- and outside interior environments of (health)care facilities and how this impacts on their physical and mental health and well-being. The cases on ongoing designs will foreground how interaction with the outdoor environment is taken into account and materialised throughout the design process of in- and outdoor interior spaces. Finally, design workshops will allow to develop design concepts and strategies to facilitate the design of future (health)care facilities in which interaction with the outdoor environment is supported.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Annemans Margo
• Fellow: Watthy Chelsey

Research team(s)

• Henry van de Velde

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This project aims to understand the factors contributing to the psychological vulnerability or vitality of older adults (aged 80 and above). It will investigate various influencing factors, including older adults' medication status concerning anticholinergic burden and prescribing cascades, as well as determinants of psychological vulnerability/mental vitality, particularly focusing on their living environment. Mental health problems affect up to 40% of older adults and often have a greater impact on their overall health status than chronic physical conditions. Common mental health issues include anxiety, depression, psychotic experiences (e.g., delirium), and harmful personality dynamics. Despite efforts, some mental health needs, particularly depression and anxiety, go unrecognized among older adults, leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis. In Belgium, the predominant approach to mental health issues is biomedical, with pharmacotherapy as the primary treatment, resulting in high rates of psychoactive medication prescriptions among older adults. While pharmacotherapy has merits, it also poses risks, especially for older adults, including severe side effects on somatic and cognitive levels due to increased anticholinergic burden. Psychoactive medications often lead to adverse effects such as cognitive decline, confusion, and delirium, which can exacerbate existing mental health issues or trigger new ones, necessitating third-line services' intervention. Additionally, prescribing cascades, where medications are prescribed to counteract the side effects of other medications, are common among older adults and contribute to hospital admissions. Older adults with mental health vulnerabilities often have multiple vulnerabilities, including multimorbidity and polypharmacy, highlighting the need for personalized interventions that go beyond medication. Furthermore, the impact of living environments, including interior design and neighborhood characteristics, on the mental well-being of older adults with psychological vulnerabilities, is understudied. A tailored living environment that promotes autonomy and integrity is crucial for their well-being. Access to outdoor spaces and contact with nature are particularly important, as limited access predicts depressive symptoms. This project seeks to answer key research questions regarding the factors contributing to psychological vulnerability/vitality in older adults, the bi-directional relationship between living environment and mental health, the impact of reducing polypharmacy on mental health, and the development of a tailored intervention mix for psychological vulnerability/mental vitality.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van den Broeck Kris
• Co-promoter: Annemans Margo
• Fellow: Vermeulen Tom

Research team(s)

• Primary and interdisciplinary care Antwerp (ELIZA)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This study, commissioned by Tourism Flanders, focuses on updating information sheets on accessible holiday accommodations as part of their recovery policy. The aim is to ensure optimal and comfortable accessibility for all, particularly for people with disabilities. Projects funded by Tourism Flanders must meet strict accessibility standards, with guidance provided by either the Accessibility Agency Flanders or Tourism Flanders' experts. Despite existing legislation, many tourism projects fall outside its scope, highlighting the need for expanded guidelines and inspiring examples. The study formulates and refines objectives to address these needs.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Vaes Kristof
• Co-promoter: Annemans Margo

Research team(s)

• Product development

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The part of the Middelheim Museum (Middelheim East) adjacent to the hospital, redesigned around the theme of "Hospita(bi)lity": the site will be redesigned, with the aim of working interactively, focusing on both physical and mental mobility. In addition to landscape intervention, we foresee artistic interventions, for which artists will develop a welcoming and beneficial environment together with patients and various experts. The end result is a total experience garden, inviting movement and sensory experiences, as well as reflection and dialogue. The idea behind BYPASS comes from scientific medical and urban planning research showing that a quality environment contributes to better physical and mental recovery for patients, and contributes to a greater quality of life for city citizens in general. With BYPASS, we unlock healthcare facilities and museum: in a daily and informal way. But we also go further. With a participatory design process and strong programming, we are creating encounters between the children and young people of UKJA, their caregivers, scientists, designers, city planners and wider visitors to the wider area, volunteers, staff and visitors to the museum. Thus, in addition to a new quality public accommodation space, this innovative intervention maximizes a unique co-creation process, with interesting learning opportunities, and sustainable contribution to local, regional and international policy visions on care, healthy living, green and water management. Within this service agreement, UAntwerpen takes on a mission as a subcontractor of the City of Antwerp, particularly by feeding the co-creation in the preliminary design of the BYPASS project through interdisciplinary research.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Glazemakers Inge
• Co-promoter: Annemans Margo
• Co-promoter: Van Acker Maarten

Research team(s)

• Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI)

Project type(s)

• Research Project