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Dementia Health Care Facility Design
Author(s) -
Winchip Susan
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of interior design
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.229
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1939-1668
pISSN - 1071-7641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1668.1990.tb00053.x
Subject(s) - dementia , intervention (counseling) , level design , gerontology , disease , built environment , psychology , health care , medicine , nursing , computer science , engineering , human–computer interaction , civil engineering , pathology , game design , economics , economic growth
Alzheimer's disease and the related dementias have become serious public health problems afflicting approximately 5 million Americans (Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, 1988). The design of health care facilities can play an active role in shaping and supporting human lives. A basic understanding of the behavioral characteristics of persons with a dementing disease is required in order to design a safe and secure physical environment. Behavioral characteristics of dementia most important to the design of the physical environment have been extrapolated and synthesized from the medical literature for this report. Planning an effective support environment requires consideration of several architectural elements and living areas. The criteria are applicable to a wide range of environmental types, from traditional nursing homes to special care units. This report is intended to increase awareness among educators, architects, and interior designers about ways the physical environment can serve as a therapeutic tool, supporting meaningful intervention for long‐term care recipients.