Abstract
Cognitive decline, especially substantial changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, significantly changes how individuals interact with their home environment. The nature and extent of these changes are highly individual and in constant flux, and are influenced by neuropathology, normal age-related changes in physical and mental functions, medications, as well as specifics in the patient’s home environment. One consistent observation is that sensitivity to the environment increases sharply with the onset of dementia. As a clinician, it is important to understand the functional challenges that the typical unadapted home presents to a dementia patient, and the guiding principles for a dementia-friendly living space. Equipped with this information, clinicians can serve as a frontline resource, advising patients and their families about practical home management strategies to enhance safety, performance of daily skills, and quality of life.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Gitlin LN, Hauck WW, Dennis MP, Winter L. Maintenance of effects of the home environmental skill-building program for family caregivers and individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and related disorders. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005;60: 368–74.
Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures, Alzheimer’s & dementia (6). http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/report_alzfactsfigures2010.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
Caregiving in the U.S. National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. 2004. http://www.caregiving.org/data/04finalreport.pdfAccessed 29 Mar 2012.
Calkins M. Design for dementia. J Healthcare Design. 1991;3:159–71.
Jones K. Enabling technologies for people with dementia: report of the assessment study in England. 2004. http://www.enableproject.org/download/Enable%20-%20National%20Report%20-%20UK.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
Dunne TE, Neargarder SA, Cipolloni PB, Cronin-Golmb A. Visual contrast enhances food and liquid intake in advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Clin Nutr. 2004;23:533–8.
Torrington JM, Tregenza PR. Lighting for people with dementia. Lighting Res Technol. 2007;39(1):81–97.
Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF. Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med. 1988;319(26):1701–7.
Hurley A, Gauthier M, Horvath K, Harvey R, Smith S, Trudeau S, Cipolloni PB, Hendricks A, Duffy M. Promoting safer home environments for persons with Alzheimer’s disease: the home safety/injury model. J Gerontol Nurs. 2004;30:43–51.
Spring H, Rowe M, Kelly A. Improving caregivers’ well-being by using technology to assist in managing nighttime activity in persons with dementia. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2009;2(1):39–48.
Rowe M, Kelly A, Horne C, Lane S, Campbell J, Lehman B, Phipps C, Keller M, Benito AP. Reducing dangerous nighttime events in persons with dementia by using a nighttime monitoring system. Alzheimers Dement. 2009;5(5):419–26.
Patient care ergonomics resource guide: safe patient handling and movement. Patient Safety Center of Inquiry. Tampa, FL: Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense; 2001 (rev 8/31/05). http://www.visn8.va.gov/patientsafetycenter/resguide/ErgoGuidePtOne.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
Daikoku R, Saito Y. Differences between novice and experienced caregivers in muscle activity and perceived exertion while repositioning bedridden patients. J Physiol Anthropol. 2008;27(6):333–9.
Safety at home. Alzheimer’s Association National Office. 2005. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_homesafety.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar 2012.
Calkins MP, Brush JA. Designing for dining: the secret of happier mealtimes. J Dement Care. 2002;10(2):24–6.
Piwnica-Worms K, Omar R, Hailstone JC, Warren JD. Flavour processing in semantic dementia. Cortex. 2010;46(6):761.
Barrick AL, et al. Bathing without a battle: creating a better bathing experience for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (CD-ROM). Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina; 2003.
Barrick AL, Rader J, Hoeffer B, Sloane P, Biddle S, editors. Bathing without a battle: person-directed care of individuals with dementia, Springer series on geriatric nursing. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2008.
Cohen-Mansfield J, Creedon M, Malone T, Parpura-Gill A, Dakheel-Ali M, Heasly C. Dressing of cognitively impaired nursing home residents: description and analysis. Gerontologist. 2006;46(1):89–96.
Kinney J, Kart C, Murdoch L, Conley C. Striving to provide safety assistance for families of elders: the SAFE house project. Dementia. 2004;3(3):351–70.
Topo P. Technology studies to meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers: a literature review. J Appl Gerontol. 2009;28:5–37.
Buettner L, Yu F, Burgener S. Technology innovations: evidence supporting technology-based interventions for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. J Gerontol Nurs. 2010;36(10):15–9.
Additional Resources
ThisCaringHome.org, a project of Weill Cornell Medical College, is multimedia web site that offers caregivers innovative ways to learn research-based strategies that reduce caregiver stress and enhance the safety and well-being of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bakker, R. (2013). Environmental Design for Cognitive Decline. In: Ravdin, L., Katzen, H. (eds) Handbook on the Neuropsychology of Aging and Dementia. Clinical Handbooks in Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3106-0_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3106-0_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3105-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3106-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)