# Environmental Stressors and Adaptive Mechanisms in Long-Term Care Resident Bedrooms: A Canadian Case Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how residents in a Canadian long-term care facility manage environmental stressors in their bedrooms using available comfort mechanisms.

## Contribution

The study reveals how limited personal control mechanisms are used to manage environmental stressors in LTC bedrooms, highlighting design and accessibility issues.

## Key findings

- Residents actively used window blinds and adjustable thermostats to manage environmental stressors.
- Frequent use of blinds and artificial lighting reduced the health benefits of natural daylight.
- Temperature fluctuations within acceptable thresholds showed greater sensitivity to heat than cold.

## Abstract

The aim of this research was to identify the adaptive comfort mechanisms available in resident bedrooms of a newly built long-term care (LTC) home in Ontario, Canada, and examine how these were used to manage environmental stressors.

LTC facilities house vulnerable populations susceptible to various stressors. While psychosocial stressors are well-documented, physical stressors caused by the indoor environment also significantly impact resident behavior and satisfaction.

This study was nested within a larger mixed-methods postoccupancy evaluation. Methods included building walkthroughs, spot measurements, structured observations, staff and resident interviews, and an analysis of network sensor data extracted from building system reports.

Few adaptive mechanisms were available to residents. Those that were—window blinds and adjustable thermostats—were being actively used to mitigate perceived environmental stressors. While light levels in resident bedrooms met minimum requirements, frequent use of blinds and reliance on artificial lighting diminished the benefits of daylight on health and well-being. Temperature trends indicated frequent fluctuation within the acceptable thresholds and greater sensitivity to heat than cold.

Personal control mechanisms play a critical role in enhancing resident comfort in LTC facilities. Despite meeting regulatory standards for indoor environment quality, blind and thermostat use revealed additional layers of environmental stressors that need to be addressed along with critical opportunities for further research. Limitations in the accessibility and usability of personal control devices for residents with mobility or cognitive impairments highlight significant areas for improvement in LTC design.