Design and Dementia

A Design and Dementia Community of Practice (CoP) is currently developing knowledge translation (KT) tools that provide evidenced-based recommendations for dementia and senior friendly environmental design. Interested in this topic? Contact us: Felicia White, Knowledge Broker Frances Morton-Chang, PhD(c ) Gerontologist, Health Policy Researcher, Co-Lead Deb Bryson, B.Sc.(OT), OT Reg.(Ont.), Co-Lead

 

Members of the Community of Practice (click for list)

 

 Dementia- Friendly Design Considerations

• Doorways

• Lighting

• Noise-Physical

• Noise-Social

• Wayfinding
  

 

Education and Presentations:

• The Dementia-Friendly Design Series: Doorways - Presenters: Frances Morton-Chang, PhD(c ) Gerontologist, Health Policy Researcher and Deb Bryson,  B.Sc.(OT), OT Reg.(Ont.), Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant, Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton Presentation:Presentation Handout
• The Dementia-Friendly Design Series: Lighting - Presenters:Frances Morton-Chang, PhD(c ) Gerontologist, Health Policy Researcher and Leah Sadler, Associate Director of Education, MAREP:  Literature Review &Presentation Handout
• The Dementia-Friendly Design Series: Noise - Presenters: Michelle Wolfenden, Manager, Business Development, Snyder & Associates Inc., John Swallow, M.A.Sc.,P.Eng LEED AP, Swallow Acoustic Consultants Ltd, Ken Hancock, P.Eng., Retired, Frances Morton-Chang, PhD(c ) Health Policy Gerontologist, Dementia Educator:  Presentation Handout & Video: Supporting Derek
• Let's Talk About Design and Dementia: Feedback on Design recommendations-  Presenter: Frances Morton-Chang, PhD(c ) Gerontologist, Health Policy Researcher: Slides, Question and Resource Handout, Recording 
• The Dementia-Friendly Design Series: Wayfinding (New!)- Presenters: Deb Bryson,B.Sc.(OT), OT Reg.(Ont.), PRC. and Jocelyn Hunt, B.A. Gerontology and Health Studies, PEC: Presentation Handout & Recording.
  

Community of practice members share their expertise:

• Annotated bibliography prepared by Bill Benbow, a development consultant for senior's housing and care and a  community of practice member. These articles are specifically related to research and information on Wayfinding. For more Information please visit Bill's website.

• Murray Alzheimer Resource Education Program (MAREP)- Community of practice member Jessica Luh-Kim is the Associate Director of Education at MAREP where they have a variety of tools and resources available.

Merging Research and Practice

• Knowledge to Action Study

Links

• Creating a Senior Friendly Physical Environment in our Hospitals, Joanne O'Keeffe BSc, OT; Regional Geriatric Assessment Program of Ottawa. This article highlights the need for proactive hospital policies and procedures that can reduce the negative impact that length of stay can have on seniors functional abilities and ability to return home.

• Clear Print Design StandardThe Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) accessibility services provides a Guide for Clear Print and Typeface Legibility for Low Vision Readers and their accompanying literature and research reviews.

• At Home with Alzheimer's: Useful Adaptations to the Home Environment, Ottawa, ON: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This website provides practical applications for safety and security for those with dementia and their partners in care living in the community.

• Dementia Design Guidelines: Home and Community Care Capital Works Program, Lisa Hodges, Catherine Bridge & Katrina Chaudhary, 2006, Home Modification Information Clearinghouse Project Team. Clearinghouse, University of Sydney.

• Dementia Care and the Built Environment: Position Paper 3, Alzheimer's Australia, 2004, Improve the ability of adult day centres to provide a safe environment which caters to the specific needs of people with dementia.

• Living Space, University of Stirling, Everyday items designed to make life easier for people with dementia really do make a difference.

• EilonCaspi.com, Dementia resource and blog.

• Mortgage and Housing Corporation

• The Greenhouse Project Toolkit

Books

• Design Innovations for Aging and Alzheimers: Creating Caring Environments, Elizabeth C. Brawley, 2006 This book is a second edition which provides recent design innovations for in care environments for the aging and for Alzheimers.