A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Older Adults’ Wayfinding Behaviors in Hospitals: Focusing on Key Movement Areas in a Large Healthcare Facility

This study investigated how older adults navigate challenges in wayfinding within a large tertiary hospital in Korea, employing a qualitative exploratory design. Unlike prior research that primarily focused on signage design or populations with cognitive impairments, this study explored the actual wayfinding behaviors of older adult visitors in everyday hospital environments. To identify common areas of confusion, semi-structured interviews were conducted with two information desk staff members, followed by purposive non-participant field observations over four days in six key movement and decision-making areas. A total of 24 observation sessions (12 hours) were carried out, documenting 82 cases of older visitors, with 75 core cases analyzed in depth. The findings revealed that wayfinding difficulties were not widespread throughout the hospital but concentrated at specific decision points, such as vertical circulation areas, branching corridors, and inter-building transition spaces. Older adults frequently exhibited pause-search-move cycles, backtracking, and help-seeking behaviors, often relying on staff or companions despite available signage. This indicates that wayfinding challenges stem from the interplay of spatial configuration, information systems, and age-related characteristics, rather than solely from individual limitations. By providing field-based evidence from a Korean tertiary hospital, this study underscores the necessity for targeted, age-friendly interventions at critical decision points.