Dementia Gateway: The environment
Section editor: Professor June Andrews and Colm Cunningham, University of Stirling
Read more about June Andrews and Colm Cunningham
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Kitchens and dining areas
A familiar, easy to use and safe kitchen can encourage a person with dementia to eat healthily.
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Bedrooms
A comfortable, recognisable bedroom is vital to helping a person get a good night's sleep.
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Toilets and bathrooms
Design can help make the toilet easy to find and use for longer, lessening the likelihood of accidents and incontinence.
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Gardens
Making the garden safe and secure and a place for exercise, conversation and reflection.
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Lighting
Good lighting is crucial for helping a person with dementia to make sense of their environment.
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Assistive technology
Technology can provide valuable help with some day-to-day problems for a person with dementia.
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Creating a relaxing environment
Using environmental changes to reducing stress.
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Learning disabilities and dementia
Why design matters for people with a learning disability and dementia
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Noise levels
Changing the environment and our approach can reduce noise levels – to the benefit of people with dementia
A safe, well designed living space is a key part of providing the best care for people with dementia. Good design can help people with dementia to be as independent as possible for as long as possible. It can also help to make up for impaired memory, learning and reasoning skills and can reduce stress levels.
Explore the links above to help you expand your skills and knowledge of this theme.
This all makes so much sense. I don't need something fancy. I just need to know where I am.
A woman with dementia
Case studies
Using balconies and roof gardens to access the outdoors
Incontinence: how design solutions can help
Learning disability, dementia and creating a supportive environment at mealtimes
Using technology to support a person with dementia at night
Margaret was having difficulty finding her way around a care home...
Share your own practice examples with us!
SCIE is looking for examples of good practice in dementia care so that we can share them with people working in the sector and help to raise standards of care.
Visit the Dementia Good Practice Exchange to find out more.
