26 pages that break down how to BEST design for dementia care. Perfect for senior living professionals who want to take their understanding of Designing for Dementia to the next level.
We’ve had a number of residents over the years who believe that they are “on a cruise ship” when they are actually living in a dementia care community. When you think about it, it really isn’t that surprising: care communities are often made up of long, thin hallways with windows and doors, much like a …
Why are Life Stations so important in dementia care? The photo featured here is from Brookdale Burlington, in Burlington NC. This is one of the first Life Skills Stations that I ever designed. It is simple and fits well in an awkward space. The Baby Station featured here became an immediate hit with the residents! When …
We addressed this briefly in an earlier post last year, but I think it’s worth bringing up again. Many senior living communities will feature one room as the main “activity” space. Unfortunately, this “activity” space is also where everyone eats, watches TV, naps, and engages with the staff. What will often happen is that the …
Seriously—no one wants to walk into a dementia care unit where residents are seated around a television. And, unfortunately, we’ve all encountered this before. No one is actually watching the TV, and it’s clear that they were “put” there in order to pass the time. Let’s work on designing a community that’s centered around activities …
Working in dementia care communities, you come across a number of erroneous, but often repeated, statements about dementia. We’ve both heard the following a number of times, and it’s interesting that, while they continue to be wrong, these myths live on. You can’t use any breakable decor in dementia care. First, let’s define “breakable”: not …
I’m sitting at the airport, typing on my Kindle Fire, and I spot something out of the corner of my eye. I reach for it, instinctively, to move it—but I cannot. It’s a bowtie, and it’s just a really crisp photograph that’s built into the tabletop. Oddly, I am slightly alarmed by this. I look …
“Ducks on the Wall” founder, John Mills, on the state of art The number of Americans living with dementia is growing — and growing fast. In fact, it is estimated that by mid-century, someone in the United States will develop the disease every 33 seconds! To help combat this soaring trend, and to improve the …
Elopements are a big concern in dementia care communities. For so many residents, their entire life revolves around ‘going home’. They see family members leave through the exits, and the fact that they can’t follow them or get to the other side is disheartening and stressful. It reminds them they have lost their independence. So …
While I don’t believe in “reorienting” people with dementia (and no one should) there is something to be said for using big calendars in dementia care communities. We don’t want to try and bring people with dementia into our reality, but it’s a great idea to let them know what’s going on that day, or …