Designing for Alzheimer's Disease: Strategies for Creating Better Care Environments (Wiley Series in Healthcare and Senior Living Design)

A practical, thorough approach to the development of therapeutic special care settings

Research has shown that physical surroundings strongly influence the behavior and quality of life of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Designing for Alzheimer's Disease equips designers and care providers with the information they need to plan environments that can greatly enhance the lives of those with Alzheimer's. Explaining in concise, nontechnical terms how the disease affects cognitive and functional skills, the book offers detailed guidance on a broad range of design issues that are central to the creation of therapeutic care settings. The book features:
* Specific design suggestions that are linked to therapeutic goals, such as increasing mobility, reducing confusion, promoting safety, and maximizing functional abilities
* In-depth treatment of design criteria for lighting, color, pattern, texture, acoustics, and more
* Extensive information on furnishings, fabrics, floor coverings, wall and ceiling finishes, windows and window treatments, plus product information and specifications
* Flexible coverage of special care settings in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and residential environments -- key information on room size, shape, and arrangement; outdoor space; wayfinding; safety; and security
* Over 100 photographs and line drawings that clearly illustrate the design principles -- including a 16-page color insert


The nation's entire aged population is increasing rapidly, and the most dramatic rise is occurring in the over-85 age group. With the baby boom generation set to join the ranks of the elderly shortly after the turn of the century, clearly we will need more healthcare settings and other facilities for an older population with a growing demand for long-term care services.

In this context, it is vital for architects, interior designers, and those who deliver services to older people -- whether designing senior housing or any healthcare setting for the elderly -- to increase their knowledge of normal age-related changes, Alzheimer's disease, the physiological changes and special needs of residents with dementia, and the impact of the environment on elderly residents' ability to function.

Designing for Alzheimer's Disease provides a much needed understanding of this debilitating illness and the effect of design on residents' independence, mobility, and emotional well-being. Filled with detailed guidance on the creation of special care settings that address patient needs and support therapeutic goals, the book examines essential design criteria in such key areas as lighting, color, acoustics, safety, and wayfinding. Important considerations involving room size, shape, use, and arrangement are covered in depth, along with specific information on materials and furnishings selection -- from floor coverings and window treatments to fabrics, patterns, and ceiling finishes. Over 100 photographs, including a 16-page color insert, give full expression to the design principles discussed in the text.

Designing for Alzheimer's Disease offers a complete blueprint for effective design development and implementation, with the full benefit of Elizabeth Brawley's extensive professional background in design for aging environments and her own family's experience with Alzheimer's disease. Easily adapted for use in home or healthcare settings, this book is a vital resource for architects, interior designers, nursing home administrators, and care providers -- an invaluable aid in creating better care environments that allow individuals to function more independently, provide security and peace of mind, and improve quality of life.