• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Design Concept Helps Dementia Patients Cope

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Sep 10, 2009 10:07 pm US/Mountain

Design Concept Helps Dementia Patients Cope

DENVER (CBS4) ― Simple design changes can help patients struggling with dementia better cope with their memory loss. Alzheimer's patients in the memory unit at Holly Creek keep moving with exercise classes and new rooms that cater to their needs.

"You have to think about stimulation. Not over-stimulating people and yet having enough and enough positive stimulation so that there is actually interesting things going on and things to do," said Bill Brummett, architect and expert in dementia design.

There is a special room for patients who might be upset. They come into the room and their whole frame of mind may shift due to the mesmerizing lights. "A Snoezelen room is designed specifically to redirect active behavior that may not be wanted, and to soothe and calm," said Brummett. "You have to realize that people with dementia are particularly affected by the environment."

The environment at Holly Creek accounts for rummaging behavior. Dementia patients like to go through things, so there is a space specifically for that. "It's part of the notion that you can't stop and you maybe don't need to stop the behavior, but you're just trying to direct it in a positive way," said Brummett.

Brummett's designs also account for wandering behaviors. "In some facilities we'll design them so there's actually a looping cooridor so they can just keep going," said Brummett.

They include little touches like a view of the bathroom from the bed, which helps trigger memory. "If you can understand the issues of people with dementia, and then can design in ways that can support those, it just makes for a better environment for them," said Brummett.


Additional Resources

Memory Walk

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Curious & Controversial News

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Colorado & Denver News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.