While current approaches to design and architecture often focus on meeting a budget or targets, the sector needs to be looking to the future, says Becky Smith, part II architectural assistant, Leonard Design
Most care facilities, whether specifically designed for people with dementia or not, feel clinical with an atmosphere that is more like that of a hospital than a home. Not only is this approach detrimental to helping the resident who has left the surroundings they are familiar with maintain their independence, but it can discourage visitors. After all, most of us have had the experience of visiting a relative and feeling awkward at having to encroach on a busy communal room or uncomfortable at having to retreat to the restricted space of a private bedroom.
While current approaches to design and architecture often focus heavily on meeting a budget or target, the sector needs to be looking to the future. With the population of over 65s projected to increase by nearly 60 per cent over the next 25 years, new design solutions are not only required to meet demand, but can help to realise a very real business opportunity; that is providing high quality environments for those that want to invest in living homes that offer care to residents in the true sense of the word.
The continued availability and improvement of specialist facilities for dementia care is essential and their design needs to support the work of time pressed staff as well as creating a happy and healthy environment for residents. There is also a real danger that the specialist needs of people with dementia are not being realised when grouped in a generic ‘home’ with others who are not living with such a debilitating condition
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