Indoor spatial layout optimization of nursing homes by monitoring older adults’ living behaviours with RFID technology

Due to the increasingly ageing population throughout the world, the demand for nursing homes has soared. However, without adequate consideration of older adults’ physical and mental characteristics, the indoor spatial layouts of most nursing homes fail to match the residents’ special living behaviours and needs. This study thus sought to optimize the indoor spatial layout of nursing homes, using the data of older adults’ real-time living behaviours in a nursing home, which were collected by radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The genetic algorithm was adopted to make the indoor spaces match the residents’ specific needs. The results indicated that the overall optimal indoor spatial layout could be obtained by exchanging functions of the recreation room and a suite and leaving other functions assigned to their original spaces. Older adults’ living behaviours on different floors and bedroom types could affect the optimal spatial layout results. The location of the elevator hardly affected spatial layout optimization results. The results of this study are expected to provide suggestions for both architects and management staff, informing their understanding of older adults’ behaviours and helping them optimize indoor spatial layouts based on the residents’ behaviours and needs, improving residents’ quality of life in nursing homes.