Currently, there are almost 350,000 Australians living with dementia. This number is expected to increase to 400,000 in less than ten years, and without a medical breakthrough expected to be almost 900,000 by 2050. By then, spending on dementia will outstrip that of any other health condition – projected to be an enormous $83 billion.
Despite the enormity of the issue, the clinical understanding of the conditions of dementia and the best management practices are still relatively new, and as such, creating a built environment that accommodates people with dementia is one of the greatest challenges faced by the building and design industries.
All too often the experience of a person with dementia is overlooked in the design of residential and respite facilities. Dementia changes how people interpret what they see, hear, taste, feel and smell. It impairs memory, reasoning and a person’s ability to learn. Anyone involved in the design of a dementia-friendly environment must take into consideration these unique characteristics, and the way they impact how people living with dementia experience the world.
Dementia-friendly environments should be created around the experience of dementia, and a flexible approach taken to maximise people’s independence. These spaces should be designed to help engage patients, support independence and give meaning, comfort and safety.
One of the most common oversights in the design of dementia-friendly environments is the need for adaptable solutions. As the level of dementia evolves over years the needs and requirements of patients change, design features should be able to adjust to suit these needs. Providing flexible design solutions promotes quality of life to the patient even as their condition deteriorates.
Careful consideration in the design of the built environment can assist patients, their families, and carers throughout their journey of living with dementia.
Dementia-friendly bathroom design
As one of the most consistently used and also hazardous areas of any home, the design of the bathroom is crucial to a successful dementia-friendly project.
This free white paper from Enware Australia examines the key considerations of dementia-friendly bathroom design, and flexible solutions that provide quality of life now, while also being able to adjust and adapt as peoples conditions and requirement change.
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