A Study on Cognitive Maps about Space Perception by the Elderlies (Case study: Kahrizak Nursing Home)

Subject Areas : Urban Management Studies

Farnaz Cheraghifar ¹ , Hossein Soltanzadeh ² , Hadi Ghoddusifar ³

1 - . Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, South Tehran, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Professor of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Central Tehran, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor of Architecture, Department of Architecture, South Tehran, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2022-07-18 Accepted : 2022-09-18 Published : 2022-08-23

Keywords: space perception, elderly, architecture, Cognitive maps,

Abstract :

Introduction and purpose of the research: This article aimed to identify the cognitive aspects of the elderly residents of Kehrizak nursing home in Tehran in order to obtain basic data and cognitive elements of the elderly using cognitive maps, and in order to identify the influencing indicators in the perception and recognition of space by the elderly and to identify the variables It is effective in the perception of space by using cognitive maps. Method: In terms of nature, the current research is a descriptive and correlational research method, and it was conducted as a case study. The library-document method was used to collect information, the field and observation method was used to measure the current situation, and the interview tool and cognitive mapping technique were used to collect the research data. Findings: The findings of the research show that the average perceived cognitive elements of women's group is more than men's group and the type of drawing cognitive map of spatial elements is more in women's group than in men's group. Increasing the length of stay did not affect the number of elements perceived in the cognitive maps; The length of stay was positively related to the type of cognitive map of successive elements. With the increase of the duration of stay, the cognitive map of the type of sequential elements increased. Conclusion: The majority of known spaces in cognitive maps represent a place for people's memories. Creating memorable spaces affects residents' knowledge of the living environment. It is better to improve cognitive spaces before reducing the cognitive abilities of the elderly.    

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