Wayfinding is a critical aspect of life because it enables people to be self-sufficient and to find their way. People do this by using information in the environment around them to help them reach their destination. Spatial disorientation is one of the first symptoms in Dementia and it worsens throughout the progression of the disease (Brush, Camp, Bohach, & Gertsberg, 2015). People with dementia easily become lost and have difficulty adapting to new environments. Memory care communities need to have environmental cues that help residents find their way and help them to identify rooms and what they are used for.
Signage is the most commonly used cue in environments to help people navigate to their destination. For dementia communities it is good to use signs that have pictures instead of words. This helps to give residents a clearer view of what the sign is indicating to. Signs should also use bright colors, so they are noticed by residents. The signs need to be bright so the resident can distinguish that it is not part of the wall and that it is a cue to help them navigate. Studies have shown that larger signs help to improve resident’s orientation. Residents were able to see the larger sign from further away which lead to less confusion. Sign placement is something that needs to be considered for dementia residents. Dementia residents tend to look down so signs need to be in a place where they can see them. Some studies suggest that signs be mounted with their lower edge no higher than four feet from the floor. This way a resident who is looking down may see the bottom of the sign which may help them to look up and read the sign. Signage is very important tool to use when wayfinding (Brush, Camp, Bohach, & Gertsberg, 2015).
Another way signage can help dementia residents with wayfinding is by using it as a memory aid. When a resident first moves into a dementia care community it is hard for them to figure out where everything is, and it can take months until they start to recognize the space. This includes their own bedroom which is why a memory aid is especially helpful when a resident is trying to locate their room. Most communities have the name of the resident and their picture outside of the resident’s room to help them and the staff know whose room it is. It is beneficial to have a memory box outside the room with items that belong to the resident as well. This make is easier for the resident to locate their room because they may not recognize the picture on the wall, but they can recognize an item in the box and know it is theirs (Nolan, Mathews & Harrison, 2001).
A common cue for wayfinding is the use of color. Color should be used in conjunction with other cues the environment provides. Also, color should be consistent throughout the community. If green was being used for the living room then any sign that indicates the living room should also be green. This helps to keep the color consistent and uses other cues to help residents navigate the community. Research shows that people sixty-five and older prefer blues, reds, and greens. It has also been found that people with dementia can rank colors in order of preference so if a room is associated with a color they don’t like then they will avoid that room. Using colors that they prefer in areas such as the dining room, living room, and bedroom will help residents to want to go and be active in those rooms. Also, contrast is an effective wayfinding tool. Contrast helps residents to distinguish between objects and spaces. Signage needs to have a high contrast from the wall so residents can see the sign. Color and contrast should be used as a wayfinding tool in memory care communities (Brush, Camp, Bohach, & Gertsberg, 2015).
Reducing decision making for wandering residents help with wayfinding and reduces stress and anxiety. Hallways should be a straight walkway from one point to another. If there are to many options presented to the resident at one time, they can become anxious and confused. Therefore, crossing hallways and several changes of direction should be avoided. Also, it is recommended to not place common or activity rooms straight across the hall from each other. If a resident is wandering down the hall and gets to the spot where they have a room on each side of them and a hallway in front of them, they will get stressed and lost on which way to go. If the floor plan does not allow for a straight circulation system, then a meaningful reference point should be incorporated. Placing a familiar area such as a dining room at the point where the direction changes serves as a good reference point for residents. Wayfinding for dementia residents should be simple and should not give residents to many options at one time (Marquardt, 2011).
Landmarks are another way to help dementia residents with wayfinding. Landmarks can be an object such as statue, or a distinctive architectural element such as an archway. Providing a functional landmark such as a clock, artwork, or furniture item that the resident finds meaningful at the entrance of a room, helps residents to know what room they are entering. Also, changeable display boxes and menus can be used for wayfinding. They need to be well lit and have clear pictures so resident can easily identify what the board is showing. Also having identifiable landmarks in a room help residents to know the function of the room. So, having a barber pole in the hair salon or a cross for a worship room helps residents to easily identify the rooms purpose. Landmarks are a good wayfinding tool for dementia residents because it helps them to identify the room without stress or anxiety (Design and Dementia Community of Practice, 2013).
Dementia residents have a hard time knowing where they are at and knowing how to get to a new destination. Therefore, wayfinding in a memory care communities is an important design detail. Items such as landmarks, signs, and familiar furniture can help a resident locate a room. Also, the use of color and contrast can help direct a resident to the room they are searching for. Keeping the floor plan as simple as possible for residents helps to reduce stress and confusion. Wayfinding in a memory care community needs to be simple and have many environmental cues to help residents navigate the community.
Sources:
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.
Design and Dementia Community of Practice (2013). Dementia Friendly Design Considerations: Wayfinding, Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange.
Marquardt, G. (2011). Wayfinding for People with Dementia: A Review of the Role of Architectural Design [Abstract]. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal,4(2), 75-90. doi:10.1177/193758671100400207
Nolan, B. A., Mathews, R. M., & Harrison, M. (2001). Using external memory aids to increase room finding by older adults with dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementiasr,16(4), 251-254. doi:10.1177/153331750101600413
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