A Checklist for Assessing Dementia-friendly Design: Architecture as Non-pharmacological Mean in Assistance of Patients with Dementia

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S667-S667 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.V. Zamfir ◽  
M. Zamfir Grigorescu

IntroductionAlthough there are recommendations regarding dementia-friendly architecture, studies on design features and their impact on quality of life of patients with dementia are quasi-nonexistent. The design of the environment is one of the non-pharmacological methods in the assistance of patients with dementia.ObjectivesSetting a checklist of design principles in order to assess centers for elderly with dementia; identifying the types of centers where will be applied the checklist; implementation of the checklist and determining results of assessment.AimsOur aim is to challenge the contemporary architecture of centers for elderly to be friendly with dementia patients.MethodsAfter studying literature we built a check-list of 8 principles: providing a comfortable space and also a therapeutically environment; functionality and efficiency; flexibility and accessibility; optimal design of circulation routes in order to avoid disorientation and to reduce agitation; security and safe; aesthetics; sanitation; sustainability. We then performed a case-study on two types of settings, day care centers and respite centers, and we applied the check list on three examples: two urban Day Care Centers for patients with Alzheimer Dementia (2006, Pontevedra, Spain and 2011, Alicante, Spain) and a Respite Center (2009, Dublin, Ireland).ResultsIn general, the centers are verifying the proposed checklist. Four architectural tools were identified: light, form, colour and texture. Form is more recognizable than colour and colour more recognizable than function.ConclusionsArchitecture contributes to increase quality of life in people with dementia. The proposed checklist is a promising tool for assessing dementia-friendly design.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Mork Rokstad ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Øyvind Kirkevold ◽  
Jūratė Šaltytė Benth ◽  
Maria Lage Barca ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Day care that is designed for people with dementia aims to increase the users’ quality of life (QoL). The objective of the study was to compare the QoL of people with dementia attending day care with those not attending day care.Methods:The study is based on baseline data from a project using a quasi-experimental design, including a group of day care users (n = 183) and a comparison group not receiving day care (n = 78). Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD) was used as the primary outcome, to collect both self-reported and proxy-based information from family carers on the users’ QoL. A linear mixed model was used to examine the differences between groups.Results:Attending day care was significantly associated with higher mean scores of self-reported QoL. There was no difference between the groups in proxy-reported QoL. Analyses of the interaction between group belonging and awareness of memory loss revealed that the participants with shallow or no awareness who attended day care had significant higher mean scores of QoL-AD compared to those not attending day care.Conclusions:Higher self-reported QoL was found among people attending day care designed for people with dementia compared to the comparison group. The difference in QoL ratings was found in the group of day care users with shallow or no awareness of their memory loss. Hence, day care designed for people with dementia might have the potential to increase QoL as it is experienced by the users.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Marijke van Haeften-van Dijk ◽  
Franka J. M. Meiland ◽  
Bart J. J. Hattink ◽  
Ton J. E. M. Bakker ◽  
Rose-Marie Dröes

ABSTRACTBackground:Several studies have shown that the combined community-based Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) for people with mild to moderate dementia and their carers were more effective in reducing behavior and mood problems of people with dementia than traditional nursing home-based (NH) day care. We therefore investigated in this study whether community-based (CO) psychogeriatric day care for people with mild to severe dementia combined with carer support (in accordance with the MCSP), is more effective than regular NH day care.Methods:A pre-test–post-test control group design was used to compare the effect of CO and NH day care on care needs, behavior and mood problems, and quality of life of people with dementia. 138 dyads of people with mild to severe dementia and family carers participated in the study: 70 from (new and longer existing) CO day cares (experimental group), and 68 from NH day cares (control group). ANCOVAs were performed at post-tests, including baseline data as covariates.Results:After six months, no overall differences on outcome measures were found between CO and NH day cares. However, participants of recently started CO day cares showed fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms, whereas carers in the longer existing CO day cares reported fewer care needs compared to the control group (large effects). Persons with dementia cohabiting with their carer benefitted most from CO day care.Conclusions:This study shows that combined CO day care has promising added value compared to NH day care, especially for participants with dementia cohabiting with their carer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virgínia Lúcia Reis Maffioletti ◽  
Maria Alice Tourinho Baptista ◽  
Raquel Luiza Santos ◽  
Valeska Marinho Rodrigues ◽  
Marcia Cristina Nascimento Dourado

ABSTRACT Day care (DC) provides a break in daily care as a support strategy for family caregivers (FC) of people with dementia (PwD). Objective: to analyze the support strategies used by the DC for FC, their methodological and theoretical models, as well as the respective benefits for FC burden, coping strategies and quality of life. Methods: a systematic review following the Prisma methodology was performed on PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus and SciELO electronic databases in August, 2018. The search keywords were “day care”, “dementia” or Alzheimer disease, “caregiver”, “quality of life” and “psychological adaptation”. Results: twenty-one studies were included. No randomized controlled trials were found. The provision of education, counseling and support, access to information, the professionals' expertise and the quality of their relationship with DC users were highlighted by caregivers. Compared to standard programs centering on PwD, the integrated program focused on PwD and FC activities showed increased feelings of competence and self-confidence of FC to postpone institutionalization. Heterogeneity in the structure and organization of the DC programs, intervention strategies and theoretical basis was observed. Conclusion: Integrated programs are a promising approach that addresses the needs and demands of PwD and their FC in a multidimensional manner.


GeroPsych ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Mechthild Niemann-Mirmehdi ◽  
Andreas Häusler ◽  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Johanna Nordheim

Abstract. To date, few studies have focused on perceived overprotection from the perspective of people with dementia (PwD). In the present examination, the association of perceived overprotection in PwD is examined as an autonomy-restricting factor and thus negative for their mental well-being. Cross-sectional data from the prospective DYADEM study of 82 patient/partner dyads (mean age = 74.26) were used to investigate the association between overprotection, perceived stress, depression, and quality of life (QoL). The analyses show that an overprotective contact style with PwD has a significant positive association with stress and depression, and has a negative association with QoL. The results emphasize the importance of avoiding an overprotective care style and supporting patient autonomy.


Author(s):  
Inmaculada Méndez ◽  
Esther Secanilla ◽  
Juan P. Martínez ◽  
Josefa Navarro

In a global approach about the need of paying attention to staff working with and for older people with dementia and other diseases in residential care, it is necessary to investigate their emotional well-being to provide strategies to improve their quality of life and therefore their quality of patient care. Professional caregivers of people with dementia and other diseases have specific psycho-sociological problems. They are more prone to stress which can sometimes lead to the “burnout” due to specific functions in the workplace. To define the sample was decided to compare two residential centers of two regions, Murcia and Barcelona. We proceeded to the administration of the following measuring instruments: the scale Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and an ad hoc survey conducted for professional caregivers. Finally, the results offer the possibility of carrying out programs to prevent emotional exhaustion in professional carers, as well as the possibility of designing psychoeducational programs for staff care and even future proactive and reactive interventions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document