Designing Dementia-Friendly Environments in Long-Term Care
Summary
Designing dementia-friendly environments in long-term care centres on creating spaces that support cognitive function, emotional wellbeing and autonomy for residents with dementia. Key principles include clear wayfinding, homelike scale, multisensory stimulation and safety without an institutional feel. Architectural strategies use natural light, contrasting colours and unobstructed circulation paths to reduce confusion and agitation. Incorporation of green spaces or garden areas encourages engagement with nature and opportunities for social interaction. Thermal comfort and appropriate acoustics mitigate distress and aggression, while technology can assist in monitoring and personalised cues. Organisational features—such as small household models, flexible communal areas and integration of daily activities—foster a sense of identity and purpose. The global shift towards person-centred design emphasises adaptability, cultural relevance and evidence-based interventions to enhance quality of life, preserve functional abilities and support staff in delivering dignified care.
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Designing Dementia-Friendly Environments in Long-Term Care publication trend
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Technical terms
Thermal comfort: A state of mind expressing satisfaction with surrounding temperature and humidity levels, crucial for reducing agitation.
Green care environment: A care setting integrating nature-based activities, such as gardening or animal interaction, to support daily living and wellbeing.
Activities of daily living (ADLs): Routine tasks (e.g. dressing, eating, mobility) essential for independent functioning and quality of life.
Participatory design: A co-design approach involving end users (e.g. residents, staff) in the creation and evaluation of design solutions.
References
- Indoor environmental conditions and likelihood of reported violence and aggression in a purpose-built residential dementia hospital. Journal of Environmental Psychology (2024).
- Utilizing the physical green care environment to support activities of daily living for nursing home residents: a focused ethnographic case study. BMC Nursing (2024).
- Homing wellness: can narrative design transform living spaces for people with dementia into engaging environments enabling communication?. Frontiers in Public Health (2024).
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