Evaluating the Dementia Friendly Design of Long-Term Care Facilities

Due to the enormous effect that dementia has on an individual’s behavior, spatial orientation, and wayfinding, among other things, an emphasis on resilience factors is imperative when designing an appropriate long-term care facility. Some resilience factors in improving quality of life for individuals with dementia include: walking spaces or physical activity, social integration, learning new skills, and support from family or caregivers. To increase these resilience factors and improve the quality of life of those living with dementia, the built environment plays a large role in the facilitation of each factor. For example, having open spaces that allow for families to interact with each other, outdoor space for physical activity or learning new skills, or an intuitive layout for lost individuals to find their way can greatly lessen distress and enhance a living environment. While some of these factors can be assessed from floor plans, understanding how the space is used and organized will further contribute to understanding how accessible and useful the care facilities are for those who inhabit them. Through the analysis of three long-term dementia care facilities, better practices to aid wayfinding, physical activity, and accessibility of the built environment with the ultimate goals of ensuring safety, promoting autonomy, and aiding a person’s adjustment to life in a long-term care facility.