Elizabeth Butcher, head of marketing at care home supplier Blueleaf Care, explains that while designing a safe physical environment for people living with dementia might be challenging, it is nonetheless essential
The number of people living with dementia is rising as the population ages. Today, 80 per cent of care home residents have some form of dementia, and around 70 per cent have Alzheimer's. There is a shortage of dementia beds and specific rooms in the care home market. This likely contributes to two-thirds of people living with dementia being rushed to hospital following an avoidable accident and injury. With the government estimating around 1.6m people will be living with dementia by 2040, a new approach is needed to keep residents safe.
Designing a safe physical environment for people living with dementia is challenging, but it is essential.
Good design is about prolonging a resident's independence to maintain dignity, reducing stress and anxiety, and slowing the decline of mental capacity. It means designing for safety and for inclusivity, e.g. to support those with failing sight and poor mobility, and where wheelchairs and walkers might be needed. And it also means designing to make a place feel more like a home rather than an institution.
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