DEMENTIA
Designing For The Future
Jitesh Patel, Project Developer at Kajima, explains how we can adapt the built environment to accommodate the changing needs of dementia sufferers.
As the UK’s ageing population increases, so does the number of people suffering with dementia- presenting one of society’s biggest challenges. With this in mind, designing and developing sustainable communities that are safe and inclusive for a growing but increasingly vulnerable section of the population, is key to the future of our towns and cities.
We have the rare opportunity to revolutionise the health of communities through the built environment; dementia can be influenced for the better by the quality of building design. Developers of assisted living accommodation therefore have a particular responsibility to ensure that the buildings they deliver are inherently future-proofed to accommodate the changing needs of the individuals, particularly those with progressive diseases.
One such community is Hogeweyk, a village located in Weesp, Netherlands, where residents with advanced dementia have the tools to lead a normal life. Hogeweyk started in 1993 as a typical nursing home like those found throughout the UK, but the staff soon realised that there was a more dignified way to offer care. The village comprises 23 houses, each with six to seven residents and a caregiver who cooks, takes people to social events, helps them go shopping at the village market and watches over them to ensure their safety. Hogewyk actively promotes patient choice, with its residents having the freedom to choose how they spend their day.
Such an innovative approach might be appropriate for the UK in light of new evidence that people with dementia are being let down by local services across the country. The Department of Health revealed that the standards of care vary
- 32 -
widely in different areas, with services failing to reach almost half the patients for check-ups even once a year in one area.
Adapting the built environment to ensure that communities are more accessible for those with dementia is the first step. Research has suggested that moving a person with advanced dementia can cause a worsening of symptoms, an increase in stress and a risk to life. Ideally, it should be possible to adapt care delivered in the existing environment, accommodating the patient’s escalating needs.
To do this, we can create different ability zones throughout a care complex, which might be as simple as adapting individual lounges or dining areas, or as complex as creating ability- dependent wings. Each area of the care environment can be designed to compensate for the degree of strengths and abilities of its residents, allowing a smooth transition to the next, more care-dependent zone with the onset of increasing need.
The design of all environments must also reflect the complex needs of those with dementia.
Designers can respond by using materials carefully selected to avoid reflective or dark surfaces which could confuse perception, and patterns in flooring or paving should be used with care to avoid perceptual difficulties. There should be continuous level routes, with surface materials chosen to aid orientation and sense of direction. Circulation areas should be wide enough for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and pedestrians to pass each other with ease and safety. Where possible, steps should be avoided, because people living with dementia may have difficulty judging distance.
Green spaces and gardens should be planted with small trees and shrubs that attract wildlife, with external paths and wander loops integrated into the landscape design. Allotments and recreational spaces can be provided to encourage outside activity and outdoor sitting spaces with individually designed seating and sheltered conservatories and greenhouses should be orientated to maximise access to natural light.
“Each area of the care environment can be
designed to compensate for the degree of
strengths and abilities of its residents.”
Furthermore, the building ought to be designed to anticipate new technology that can easily interface with infrastructure installed at the start. The availability of good internet connectivity and wireless technology is increasingly supporting the development and accessibility of “apps” that can be used to deliver tailored care and support to the individual.
The aspiration must be that people with dementia are able to live in their chosen environment for as long as possible, potentially until end of life. This will only be possible if cutting-edge knowledge, design principles and technology are harnessed and integrated into the design of new buildings and external environments, delivering the best possible care.
www.kajima.co.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42
