A Study on the Relationship Between Indoor Thermal Comfort and the Physical and Psychological Perception of the Elderly

As the elderly population increases, the comfort of indoor spaces is crucial for the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly with mobility issues and declining memory. This study aims to investigate the relationship between indoor thermal comfort and the physical and psychological perception of the elderly. By inviting Elderly residents from the Qingquan Nursing Home in Taichung City to participate in the experiment. The elderly wore Electroencephalogram (EEG) devices to obtain psychological (brainwave) results, and TSV (Thermal Sensation Vote) and TCV (Thermal Comfort Vote) feedback were collected through questionnaires. Finally, using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the data were analyzed for correlations with measurements of thermal comfort physical environment (temperature, humidity, wind speed). This study obtained a total of 18 valid samples, which were conducted in environments of high temperature (31.2 ℃) and low temperature (27.8 ℃) respectively. The research results indicate that in a high-temperature environment (31.2 ℃), female brainwave activities in Low-Alpha, Mid-Alpha, High-Alpha, and Low-Beta bands are significantly affected, suggesting a state of confusion or bewilderment. Conversely, in a low-temperature environment (27.8 ℃), male Mid-Alpha waves are significantly influenced by environmental humidity and wind speed, indicating that their brain waves enter a state of relaxation and concentration. This study not only provides important references for the health environment of the elderly but also contributes to advancing the development of near-zero energy consumption buildings for all-age health care institutions.