QFD-Based Service Design on the Horticultural Therapy for the Elderly

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the optimal design and space for horticultural therapy for elderly people. Followed by a literature review was conducted to determine the key factors in designing a healing garden, expert interviews were employed to screen design requirements. Then, quality function deployment was adopted to analyze in detail the design elements (customer needs) and engineering characteristics in actual constructions to design and plan through simulations. Finally, questionnaires were employed to evaluate the alternative designs and determine a suitable space for horticultural therapy for elderly people. The findings were used as spatial design principles for horticultural therapy in long-term care institutions.