Salutogenic Architecture, Non-Therapeutic Environments and the Health of the Elderly: A Systematic Review

Background: Despite a lot of studies that have been conducted on the effects of the built environment on the health of the elderly and environmental salutogenic factors, a limited number of studies have investigated the architectural physical factors clearly. Purpose and Aim: This paper investigated the architectural elements in the non-therapeutic built environment that can achieve salutogenic goals for the elderly. It also aimed to provide an answer to the question of how architectural design might be used to physically bring salutogenic theory to life. Method: In this review study, data were collected systematically using the PRISMA checklist. The three lists of keywords used for the initial search were "built environment" or "architecture," "elderly," and "health," and were supplemented with synonyms for a second search in four databases: Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and PubMed, in the period from 2000 to 2024. By applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 26 articles were selected for review and data extraction. The data were then qualitatively analyzed, and two reviewers independently verified the analysis. Conclusions: This study found that architectural elements can be salutogenic by supporting the comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. Porches, Stoop, above-grade entrances, and balconies are key elements in the home that support the sense of coherence. In assisted living facilities, walls were recognized as the only physical factor supporting the sense of coherence due to the creation of a personal, distinct, meaningful, comprehensible, and manageable space.