The environment as an important component of neurorehabilitation: introducing the BEEhive - brain and enriched environment (BEE) lab (hive).

Abstract

Contemporary healthcare design often overlooks the environment as a resource for supporting patient well-being and rehabilitation, particularly in neurotrauma care. The prioritisation of safety and efficiency has created stressful spaces that negatively impact patient needs. This paper explores whether environmental enrichment can enhance rehabilitation outcomes for individuals recovering from neurotrauma. It also introduces the BEEhive laboratory, a multidisciplinary initiative integrating environmental enrichment principles into healthcare. This paper reviews literature on the role of environmental enrichment in neurotrauma rehabilitation, synthesising empirical evidence on its benefits, and highlighting its potential to improve various aspects of neurorehabilitation. The findings are applied to the BEEhive laboratory's objectives. Environmental enrichment is shown to stimulate neurogenesis, increase rehabilitation engagement, reduce disruptive behaviours and depressive symptoms, facilitate social relationships, improve cognitive functioning, reduce stress, and alleviate boredom. Despite these benefits, its application in neurotrauma rehabilitation remains underexplored. The BEEhive laboratory aims to address this gap through multidisciplinary collaboration, implementing strategies to enhance patient outcomes. To optimise rehabilitation outcomes, healthcare environments must holistically support well-being. Environmentally focused, sustainable interventions in neurotrauma care, exemplified by the BEEhive initiative, are crucial for bridging the gap between research and practice, fostering innovative approaches to neurotrauma rehabilitation.