The future of design for dementia-friendly environments
One of my big passions (okay, my biggest passion — aside from my kids) is dementia-friendly design.
Having cared for a loved one in my own home, plus having a background in the health sector, a few years ago I took on the somewhat daunting task of going back to formal study to learn more about it. Now my studies are complete and I’ve started small business, Live Lightly by Design, which priortises dementia-friendly design combined with energy efficiency.
Dementia-friendly design entails respecting the dignity, autonomy, individuality, independence and differing care needs of people living with dementia.
In pursuit of these goals, designs should maximise intergenerational interactions, focus on the strengths and abilities of people living with dementia while designing for functional changes, encourage people living with dementia to have the freedom to make choices, assist people living with dementia to maintain their culture, and be informed by evidence and research.
Some of the strategies and principles below provide useful information for developing formal and informal dementia-friendly environments:
General areas / layout:
Create small scale facilities with less than 10 residents per section
Design for changing mobility needs, i.e. space for wheelchair access, assistive mobility devices
Cluster bedrooms around central living areas to minimise long hallways. Clustering also helps to reduce building scale and avoids institutional style buildings
Design so that bedrooms are not located next to noisy and high-traffic areas, such as the laundry or exit/entry points
Select and locate fixtures and fittings (for example, in kitchens and bathrooms) to minimise reaching and bending
Provide acoustic treatment in dining areas to minimise noise, to reduce issues with overwhelm and confusion
Provide easy and constant access to interesting outdoor spaces (residents should not need to ask for doors to be unlocked)
Have significant colour contrasting of floors, walls, counters and bathroom fixtures.
Ensure well lit living spaces
Install non-slip, low-glare flooring in all areas
Have a spiritual space that adaptable to different religions and cultures
Provide on-site café serving residents and visitors
Provide recreation areas such as music, games and living rooms
Have the TV and activity area separate from the dining area, as quiet spaces are a must
Bedrooms:
Design bedrooms so people can see the ensuite from their beds
Use movement activated lights for private ensuites to minimise the chance of falls
Use carpet as the preferred floor covering
Plan each bedroom with a view to outside
Design low windows to increase visual access to outside and natural light
Locate outdoor access near people’s rooms
Install heating and cooling controllable for individual preferences
Include adequate storage in each bedroom
Consider installing window seats that provide both seating and extra storage
Design wardrobes to promote ongoing independence (consider shelf heights, drawer accessibility, and lighting)
Bathrooms:
Provide user-friendly private bathrooms with toilet, basin and shower
Bathroom mirrors should provide visibility for people standing or sitting
Outdoor spaces:
Provide well-maintained and interesting garden spaces with winding walking paths and seated areas. Include landmarks to help way-finding and improve independence
Provide quiet outdoor areas and activity areas for different needs
Include sunshade and a variety of plant life
Along with gardens and usable outside spaces, consider adjacent bowling green, staff and community and on-site child care facility for staff and visitors
Include children’s outdoor play areas to encourage families with children to visit more often. Ensure there are still plenty of quiet outdoor areas.
Colours:
If different materials are used on the floor, ensure that floor colour is the same or similar in different sections of the house so that it is perceived as a continuous surface. Using highly contrasting coloured materials on different floor areas might be perceived as a change in floor level or mistaken for shadows. Walls should be painted a colour that contrasts well with the flooring, and bench tops should also be a colour that stands out well.
Use a light colour for walls and a medium colour for floors.
Staff areas:
Provide space for easy storage and movement of equipment
Provide secure areas for storage and dispensing medication
Include easily reached storage for products and materials used in daily care routines and secure storage for cleaning materials
Include a quiet, comfortable area for staff rest and relaxation with secure storage for personal belongings
Design areas where staff can see and communicate with people with dementia and their families while working
Include an area for in-house training with space for interactive sessions, access to information technology and resources to support ongoing learning
The design of the spaces we live significantly impact the quality of our lives, and for that reason I’m hoping to see more dementia-friendly design in the not too distant future.