RESEARCH REPORT: THE DESIGN OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
5.3. The Environmental Impact in the Health Outcomes of Dementia Patients The quality of care provided for elderly people, and especially those with dementia, remains a concern. People with dementia living in institutions “are unlikely to complain‌ and are unlikely to be heard if they doâ€?. This is partly a result of the nature and effects of their illnesses, and partly a result of societal attitudes. (Tune and Bowie, 2000). The basic accommodation needs of people with dementia are no different from those of the rest of society. People with dementia need security, safety and comfort in a pleasant and stimulating environment. However, for people with dementia there are additional requirements, which reflect their dependency needs, resulting from impaired memory, learning and reasoning processes. (Cantley and Wilson, 2002) Over the years, there has been an increase of researches trying to identify the ideal and the essential components of a well-designed facility for dementia residents. The lack of a specific guideline in the design of dementia facilities has been compensated with the common understanding of the basic needs for accommodating comfortably people living with dementia. The design should compensate for disability; should maximise independence, reinforce personal identity, and enhance self-esteem and confidence; should demonstrate care for staff; should be orienting and understandable; should welcome relatives and the local community; and should control and balance stimuli. However, there is no single right way to design a care home. The particularity of the individuals must be considered during the process of the design. In the next chapter, the design features and their effect will be further discussed.
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