Use of Space and Human Rights: Planning Dementia Friendly Settings

ABSTRACT

Environmental psychology has been a topic of great interest for many researchers in the field of aging and dementia. Thus, several orientations can be identified in the contemporary scientific literature concerning environmental design for people with dementia. In this article, we discuss recent research on environmental design models for people with dementia and propose an approach referring to the concept of use of space and human rights.We use a methodology based on observation of special care units to determine an environmental design framework that should be taken into account when designing residential facilities for people with dementia. Content analysis identified 6 primary dimensions and 13 secondary dimensions relevant to the rights of people with dementia. We then discuss the results according to the related literature in environmental psychology and gerontology in terms of well-being and quality of life.

KEYWORDS:

• dementia
• design
• environmental gerontology
• model
• use of space

Acknowledgments

We thank Margaret P. Calkins, Ph.D, Caroline Charras, Ph.D, Michèle Frémontier, Ph.D, Fabrice Gzil, Ph.D, and John Zeisel, Ph.D, for their useful comments and suggestions on the writing and the scientific content of the article. We also thank Mathilde Demory for her help in this work. We declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes

1. Entre les mains d’un médecin habile c’est l’agent le plus puissant contre les maladies mentales

2. The 2008–2012 French Alzheimer plan, implemented by President Sarkozy, provided recommendations for design of day care units, and re-enforced dwelling units (for institutionalised people with dementia presenting aggravated productive behavioural symptoms, e.g., aggression, agitation, wandering).