Designing for Dementia (02-19-10)
Simpson reviews research related to the design of environments for people with dementia, particularly elderly dementia sufferers.
Simpson reviews research related to the design of environments for people with dementia, particularly elderly dementia sufferers.
Researchers at Newcastle General Hospital have determined that lotions containing an essential oil from lemon balm may help reduce agitation and improve quality of life for dementia patients.
Zeisel has extensively researched the social and physical environments in which Alzheimer’s patients should live.
When the circadian rhythms of demented elderly people are disrupted there can be serious ramifications.
Being exposed to bright light at specific points during the day increases the length of time that people with dementia remain asleep at night.
More often than not, the outdoor environment of a senior ‘retirement’ community is ignored and people focus on the attributes of a building's interior. However, the activities that can be offered on the outside of a building are almost limitless, constrained only by the imagination, and not by a person's age.
There is a wealth of new information on the effects of light on health and implications for practical lighting design.
Alzheimer’s patients seem sensitive to the sun’s waning, as the sun’s setting can trigger or increase disruptive behaviors.
Environmental designers have only recently focused on the therapeutic effects of the outdoor environment upon those with Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study provides new insights for those who are trying to meet the challenges of improving the quality of life for those affected by this devastating disease.
Research is still critical to understanding how the environment can help support those with dementia and their families. Recent studies look at several sucessful indoor design interventions and provide outdoor design guidelines.