Architecture for Dements
Provide trust and security, reduce anxiety and stress
Architecture for Dements
Provide trust and security, reduce anxiety and stress
Healing Architecture
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People with dementia are a special group of patients who should receive special attention when planning clinics and hospitals. Due to their clinical picture and the associated symptoms (forgetfulness, difficulties with everyday tasks, language problems, orientation problems, changes in behavior and personality, etc.), they require special care and an environment rich in illness. Dementia-sensitive architecture not only improves the quality of stay for patients, but also noticeably relieves the burden on nursing staff.
specialists Describe the development of dementia as “last in, first out”: What was learned last is forgotten the fastest and cannot be retrieved again. This causes significant restrictions in everyday life. For example, dementia patients forget that they are ill and are in hospital for treatment. So it seems that you suddenly find yourself in a strange environment and want to go back home. And this is exactly where the need for increased safety becomes clear: Patients must move safely through everyday ward life and must not be able to leave the hospital on their own.
A simple measure here would be to color the floors, for example: areas of soil that are darker than others are perceived as a barrier and crossed less frequently. Exits can also be concealed in color and made more difficult for people with dementia to perceive. Doors that are important for patients, on the other hand, can be highlighted in color.
The urge to return home can also be caused by Fake bus stops be satisfied. If there is a bus stop in front of or in the corridor of the station, you can take a seat here and wait for the bus. Sometimes just a few minutes are enough to satisfy the urge to move, or the patient has forgotten why he is waiting here and goes back to the room of his own accord.
If the station is designed in a similar way to a village with special spatial features such as regional landmarks, patients will find their way around better. You can use the so-called Land, Sound and Smellmarks as a guide. Familiar symbols and images structure the environment and make it easier for those living in the past to grasp it.
Create trusted environments Dementia patients need support from what they know
For free movement and good orientation on the station, the lights an equally important role in dementia-friendly interior design. Skylights in the bathroom ensure that there is a certain amount of basic lighting at all times and light switches are easier to find.
The aim should always be to provide patients with an easy-to-understand environment in which they can easily find their way around. Misunderstandings of any kind, which can arise particularly in cases of dementia, should be avoided. For example, floor patterns may look like holes.
Mirrors are also often a source of uncertainty and misunderstandings. A large mirror in the elevator opposite the elevator door makes patients think that they are not in an elevator but in a corridor. If the sink with the wall mirror is opposite the bathroom door, people with dementia can believe that someone else is already in their bathroom. This may cause the person concerned to be startled or search for a “free” bathroom. The reason: They often no longer recognize their own reflection.
Dementia-friendly architecture protects those affected from falls. This not only protects their health, but also makes it easier for professionals to care for them. They are less likely to be pulled out of their other tasks for emergency situations and have to provide fewer additional (drug) treatments. In addition, the number of care complications is significantly reduced as a result of fall prevention.
The benefits of an architecture adapted to dementia can also be felt by relatives. They experience the positive effects and are therefore less concerned about the patients. This results in more relaxed visits and fewer inquiries or critical statements to staff. The way we interact with each other is improving. This also effectively improves work processes on the station.
An environment that provides safety calms people with dementia, relieves anxiety and stress, and creates trust. Patients are more relaxed, less confused, or aggressive. This can have a direct impact on patients' faster recovery as they are more cooperative. This also makes the day-to-day work of specialists and patient care much easier. The number of physical attacks on personnel is demonstrably falling. The healing process is optimized so that the length of stay is shorter and the patient flow increases.
Without the emergencies and disruptive situations mentioned above, personnel can fully concentrate on their core tasks in care and other areas. This makes for a significantly more efficient process. In addition, there are the advantages of optimized room structures, which are also included in the concept Healing Architecture come to bear.
studies Keep sounding the alarm that more and more nursing staff are thinking about changing jobs. The measures mentioned here increase caregiver satisfaction. This is because the workload at work is reduced, while simpler structures and implementable rest periods increase the resilience of personnel. The positive result: fewer cases of illness and burn-outs as well as lower employee turnover. Staff are also significantly more motivated as a result of the reliefs and achieve better work performance.
Calm down Age-sensitive architecture allows sick people to relax
The state of NRW has also recognized the growing need for age-sensitive planning in clinics and provided funding of around €100 million in 2022 for Promoting geriatric medicine available. As interior designers and architects with a focus on healthcare, we are at your side as experts. We create the best environment for your employees and patients, in which well-being and satisfaction increase. From application to planning to implementation of a modern geriatrics, which is optimally tailored to daily requirements.
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