The design criteria of healing garden in aged care centers through enhancing mental well-being approach for the elderly with depression (Case study: Ayatollah Modarres Psychiatric Hospital)

Introduction: Having specific physical and mental characteristics, elders require a variety of needs and care. Depression is one the most common psychological issues in elders and neglecting the quality of elders' medical environment can impact their mental health. Aim: The present research aims to investigate the design of a healing garden at elderly care centers with an approach to improving the mental health of elders suffering from depression. Method: The present research has been conducted quantitatively and through the Grounded Theoury method. The research statistical population included elders suffering from depression residing at Najafabad Ayatollah Modarres Psychiatric hospital in 2020 that from among these individuals, 15 depressed elders between the age of 65-70 years old (8 males and 7 females) were selected through the purposive sampling method. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews and was analyzed through the Strauss and Corbin method in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding in the MAXQDA software. Results: The results are identified in form of healing garden components for improving the mental health of depressed elders including 300 initial (open) and selective codes and 3 main categories: relation with nature, five senses' stimulation, and space quality for the healing garden's patients, which had a positive impact on maintaining wellbeing and promoting mental health in depressed elders. Conclusion: This research showed that healing garden components at elderly care centers are effective for developing peace, reducing stress, and promoting improvement in patients' health. Therefore, it is recommended that care centers are designed considering the healing gardens' components to provide the opportunity for developing the feeling of rejuvenation and release from all tensions for achieving good health and treatment.