1. Dementia-Friendly Design Recommendations in a World of Risk Mitigation
Frances Morton-Chang, Design CoP Lead;
Health Policy Consultant
Sarah Clark, Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange;
Canadian Dementia Resource and Knowledge Exchange

2. We have no conflicts of interest to disclose

3. Introduction Who are we? What are we here to talk about?
AKE Design and Dementia CoP
What are we here to talk about?
“Knowledge to Practice” recommendations to achieve dementia-friendly environmental design
Who is our target audience?
Long-Term Care Homes (primarily)
Supportive housing
Individuals’ own homes
Adult day programs

4. Knowledge-to-Practice Opportunity
Current Context: design in LTC homes often does not meet the complex needs of person’s with dementia
Ideal Practice: person- / relationship-centered care
Gap: Flexibility in design; current ministry standards can impede this

5. Impact of Design
Improved quality of life and dementia care (PWD, staff, volunteers and family)
Reduced misperceptions and responsive behaviours (anxiety, confusion)
Enhanced design for PWD will also have a positive effect on the greater senior population

6. Purpose of Community of Practice (CoP)
Identify topic-specific innovations
Translate research and practice-based evidence
Help implement changes to improve care of PWD

7. Design and Facilitation
Members self-select areas of interest
Review evidence / primary literature
Discuss content, highlight themes and identify practical implementation strategies
Adapt Regional Geriatric Program audit tool with dementia specific findings
‘Living’ knowledge-to-practice recommendations
continually edited and updated by the CoP based on practice-based and experiential knowledge

8. The Balancing Act Home like environment and safe care environment
Client and staff (OHS & other considerations)
Persons with Dementia (PWDs) and other clients
Building on strengths and risk management

9. Audience
Language reflects both setting and reader

10. Jurisdictional Differences
Inertia re: best practices
Interpretation of codes, regulations
Interpretation of national building code provincially
Compliance advisors interpretation of regulations
Etc.

11. Physical Changes Marketing “pretty” and functionality
Retrofitting can be expensive
Good design features can be undone by poor procedures

12. Process Changes
Who is responsible and for what?
Will they remember?

13. Legislation Marrying multiple and often contradictory goals
Home-like environment,
Occupational health and safety
Legislation,
Fire codes
Building codes
Etc.

14. Contact Information
For more about the AKE Design and Dementia CoP, you may contact:
Frances Morton , CoP Lead •
Sarah Clark, Knowledge Broker • * 5452
To see resources, visit
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