The dementia environment in care home

A new addition to Social Care TV (from the UK's Social Care Institute for Excellence), this film shows how simple changes to create a more dementia friendly care home environment can have a positive impact on a person living with dementia's emotional well being and independence.

http://www.scie.org.uk/socialcaretv/video-player.asp?v=dementiaenvironmentinacarehome

Building dementia-friendly communities: A priority for everyone

The report, Building dementia-friendly communities: a priority for everyone written by the Alzheimer's Society UK, provides evidence on dementia-friendly communities from the perspective of the person with dementia and their carer.  The report highlights some barriers to an effective dementia-friendly community and the type of support persons with dementia require.  The report highlights economic initiatives communities can initiate, and how to mobilize support from local authorities.

[This image was taken from the report, Building dementia-friendly communities: a priority for everyone, page x)

To read the full report, please visit http://bit.ly/1pGbZiO.

Latest Best Practice Dementia Design Guidelines in Long-Term Care

This week we’re featuring two reports that have recently been published on best practice guidelines for people with dementia in long-term care. 

(1)    William Benbow, the Long-Term Care development consultant, has created a Best Practice Design Guideline based on the best practices from a variety of different regions and institutes, both in Canada and internationally. The BPDG includes the best practice on individual resident rooms, accessibility, wayfinding, lighting, noise, outdoor gardens, sustainability and décor.  For more information and to access the document, please visit http://bit.ly/1lJC8wq.

(2)    The latest best practice design guideline from Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) features design information for long-term care residents with dementia and sight loss.  This booklet includes information on best choices for colour, and when to implement a colour contrast.  It also has information on the most appropriate lighting, fixtures and fittings, best bathroom, kitchen and outdoor spaces and signage for entrances and exits.  For more information and to access the booklet, please visit http://bit.ly/1ngSURk.

For more information on long-term care and environmental design, don’t forget to check out our Current Perspectives on the topic.

Virtual Care Home

The Virtual Dementia House from the University of Stirling, Dementia Services Development Centre, is an award winning evidence-based interactive online resource that illustrates key aspects of dementia-friendly design.

The layouts of seven individual rooms are presented, and as viewers scroll across each room, information is displayed explaining how the features benefit a person with dementia.

The online service shows how living spaces – whether they are people’s own homes or care home settings – can be adapted to support the particular spatial and sensory needs of people with dementia.