Madeleine Liljegren
Postdoctor
Learning and Leadership for Health Care ProfessionalsAbout Madeleine Liljegren
Madeleine Liljegren is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Gothenburg. She earned her PhD in 2025 with an interdisciplinary thesis on outdoor environments for older people and staff at residential care facilities. Her thesis resulted in a double doctoral degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Health Care Sciences and Doctor of Technology in Architecture. She is a licensed physiotherapist, a certified specialist in elderly health, and holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and environmental psychology.
Research
Madeleine Liljegren’s research focuses on how outdoor environments affect the health and well-being of older people and staff in residential care settings. One of her main interests is how these environments can be designed to meet the needs and preferences of both groups. Her research also explores how access to such environments can support person-centred care, nursing, and rehabilitation, while also promoting creativity and recovery among staff. As part of her doctoral work, Madeleine developed a method for mapping access to outdoor environments, with the aim of integrating them as a natural part of both daily life and the work environment in residential care facilities. The thesis was part of the interdisciplinary research project OUT-FIT
As a postdoctoral researcher, she is working on a sub-study aimed at developing an evidence-based guideline for essential qualities in indoor and outdoor environments in residential care facilities. The focus is on how these environments can promote contact with nature and facilitate outdoor access for both residents and staff. Another sub-study further develops the guideline into an evidence-based working method for the design, planning, and evaluation of indoor and outdoor care environments. This method is intended as a practical tool for architects, landscape architects, planners, and care developers involved in the construction or renovation of residential care facilities. A third sub-study investigates the potential of outdoor environments in day care services for people with dementia.
Research group
Teaching
Madeleine Liljegren teaches at undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels at Swedish universities. Her teaching focuses on the impact of outdoor environments on health and well-being, and how such environments can be implemented in person-centred care, nursing, and rehabilitation. She also highlights how outdoor environments can be designed to support older people in their daily lives and promote sustainable work practices for staff.
Clinical practice
Madeleine Liljegren has clinical experience as a physiotherapist within municipal health and medical care, both in residential care facilities and in home healthcare services.
Keywords
Working methods, needs, health promotion, implementation, multi-methods, staff, person-centred care, nursing and rehabilitation, residential care facilities, access, outdoor environments, older people