Indoor Air Quality

Through designing a Dementia semi-residential care center, an understanding of the indoor air quality must be acquired. Through accommodating to indoor air quality, the user’s experience within the space is simplified and with no unnecessary complications that can affect the dementia diagnosed elderly’s quality of life. For Dementia diagnosed elderly, the importance is of indoor air quality is essential as since with their aging there is a decline in their physical health immunity. This makes them prone to more respiratory infections. 53 To ensure a successful and comfortable space for Dementia diagnosed elderly, sources of air pollution must be looked at, as well as how indoor air quality affects the user experience, and strategies to improve IAQ.

Since the Mohammad bin Jassim building is located across from a main vehicular road and tram route, the effects of these factors affect the IAQ of the building (fig. 55). The space is exposed to the active nature of vehicles which affects the indoor air quality of the space.

This increases pollutants that are of major public health concerns. Some pollutants include PM, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. PM is the most harmful as it is small, increasing easy penetration to the respiratory tract. This causes a decline in cognitive performance as it triggers health problems for the elderly that trigger behavioral and psychological outbursts. 54

Another source of air pollution is the humidity and hot weather (fig. 56). This triggers a bad state of indoor air temperature. Improper use of cooling/heating systems within the space impact the health and well-being of the dementia elderly, which increases agitation and behavioral outbursts. Improper indoor air temperature increases risks of illnesses such as hypothermia and hyperthermia. Factors of the building envelope, such as wall, windows, floor, and ceiling/roof, affect the conditions of poor indoor air temperature.

Figure 55- Sources of Air Pollution

Figure 56- Humidity and hot weather in Qatar

Strategies that prevent poor IAQ include source control, improved ventilation, and air cleaners. Source control works on eliminating individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. This works on small scale causes of IAQ and is often a cost-efficient approach. Sources that contain asbestos can be found in materials in the wall, ceiling, flooring. A way to control that is be sealing them by using proper finishes that do not release the toxins. Other sources could be gas stoves, machinery used in gyms, and equipment used in the massage therapy room. They can be made adjustable to decrease the amount of emissions. 55

Improved ventilation can be accessed through allowing more outdoor air to improve the indoor air quality. This can be through maximizing methods of natural ventilation (fig. 58). Through providing more openings such as windows and doors, the interior space starts to open up to the exterior space, maximizing levels of air quality. Another method could be through mechanical means such as outdoor air intake through heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems (fig. 57).

To reduce PM intake for the elderly, air infiltration sources can be added to reduce the PM consumption. Air infiltration is a process which outdoor air flows into the interior space through openings of the interior elements, such as the walls, ceiling, and floors. Air infiltration methods include adding air purifiers throughout the space, such as in bedrooms. Adding plants throughout the space also purifies the air.

In conclusion, indoor air quality is an essential element to consider in Dementia elderly homes. Indoor air quality improves behavioral and psychological factors for elderly. Through using IAQ improvement methods, environmental factors are controlled improve agitation and behavioral outbursts for elderly.

Figure 57- Air infiltration

Figure 58- Natural ventilation