Wayfinding is important to the comfort of residents. Residents with dementia often feel insecure and experience changes in their lifestyle. Therefore, wayfinding is very important when designing for memory care. Wayfinding systems help residents to get to their destination while a sense of security is reinforced (Perkins, Hoglun, 2013).
People with dementia experience many different symptoms. The disease causes individuals to experience a loss of physical abilities and memory. Symptoms of dementia make patients have difficulty finding their way and navigating within spaces. There are different levels and types of dementia. Alzheimer type (DAT), for example, causes patients to have difficulty with wayfinding. When patients begin having problems in navigating early dementia of Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed (Davis, Weisbeck 2016). Frontotemporal dementia (bvFTDO), causes patients to experience personality and behavioral changes. They start experiencing compulsiveness or stereotyped repetitive acts and begin to lose consciousness (Rahman, 2019).
Wayfinding systems are created with the coordination of several architectural and interior design tools. Signage, material finishes, colors, lighting, and artwork could be used to create a solution for wayfinding. When designing memory care communities, the overall layout needs to be analyzed and organized to in a way configurations are supportive and less confusing; circulation should be effective and logical. Visual cues around the community could be used to create effortless navigation. Accent walls, unique objects, or different types of light can be used to improve wayfinding (Perkins, Hoglun, 2013).
Nostalgic Wall Art Posters, 2019
Using Artwork is a good method to create visual cues. Artwork pieces are often remembered and recognized. They can be used as cues to orient residents and visitors (Davis, Weisbeck 2016).
Contrasting colors and materials could also help to assist residents with dementia. Contrasting wall colors, textures, and flooring materials could also create a sense of location. Carpet, LVT, and ceramic are some alternative for flooring. The materials can be varied to distinguish between different spaces such as the lobby, rooms, and common areas. (Perkins, Hoglun, 2013).
Lighting is also very important when designing senior living communities. Considering senior’s lack of vision, good natural and artificial lighting should be provided in every space. Chandeliers, wall sconces, or lamps at the lobby or entry areas not only provides additional light, but marks the location (Perkins, Hoglun, 2013).
Lighting is very helpful because seniors require more illumination than regular people. According to the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), Color Rendering Index (CRI) should be 80 for interiors and higher in lobby areas, dining, rooms, and other important spaces. (Lighting for Senior Facilities, 2018).
Visible staff stations could be provided to help residents be assisted when needed. People around the senior care community can also be used as a wayfinding strategy. Caregivers and staff can also be strategically placed in certain areas to help residents arrive at their destination. It is important to always ensure residents get the assistance needed and to be guided to find their way when they get lost. This method also helps residents with dementia create landmarks and a better sense of location (Brush, 2015).
Developing Signage that Supports Wayfinding for Persons with Dementia, 2019.
Signage is a very effective wayfinding system. It helps people to be easily directed within spaces. According to the article “Developing Signage that Supports Wayfinding for Persons with Dementia”, by Jennifer Brush, signage should contain colors that are brighter than the wall where is placed. Since seniors tend to have vision disabilities, they have a hard time seeing signs with minimum contrast. Also, graphics and simple text are proven to be easier to read by residents with dementia (Brush, 2015).
For good usability of signs, it is important to ensure that the signs are placed before a decision making and not after. When people walk in one direction, they expect to have signage before they make a turn or walk forwards. If signs are not placed in key points, people might always get lost and walk in the wrong direction. As people approach signs, they should be aware of where they are being directed (Brush, 2015).
Case Study Noah Homes Memory Care Homes. (2019)
Memory boxes are another way to help residents to find their room. There are many benefits from using memory boxes. They are used to make residents feel at home and help them to find their way. Since seniors begin to lose their memory, they need many other stimuli to identify their place.
Memory boxes can be either digital or physical. They help to create links that stimulate the resident’s memory. Photos, very familiar objects, and favorite colors are some other things that could help seniors finding their room. Memory boxes usually display personal items such as old photos, a newsletter from where they used to work, or the individual’s favorite objects. Memory boxes are a great tool to orient seniors with dementia; they keep them from forgetting which their room is.
Lastly, smells are humans most primitive sense. Smells also help seniors with wayfinding. Smells can be used as a sensory signal. They can be used in different places to change different environments. People can distinguish between millions of different odors. However, seniors with dementia start losing their sense of smell. Therefore, many different methods should be incorporated into the design to help seniors to find their way effortless (Design and Dementia Community of Practice (2013).
References
Brush, J., Camp, C., Bohach, S., & Gertsberg, N. (2015, March/April). Developing Signage that Supports Wayfinding for Persons with Dementia. Canadian Nursing Home, 26(1), 4-11.
Davis, R., & Weisbeck, C. (2016, March). Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia. Retrieved February 28, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5358323/pdf/nihms848816.pdf
Lighting for Senior Facilities. (2018, November 03). Retrieved from http://www.lightnowblog.com/2018/11/lighting-for-senior-facilities/
Perkins, L. B., & Hoglund, J. D. (2013). Building type basics for senior living. Hoboken: Wiley.
Rahman, S. (2019). Wayfinding. Retrieved from http://dementia-wellbeing.org/tag/wayfinding/
Nostalgic Wall Art Posters. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.recogneyes.co.uk/product/nostalgic-wall-art-posters-2/
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