Design considerations for those with Alzheimer’s

By Sherette Almandoz
Interior Design Consultant

“Hi Mama, afternoon.”

“Aye aye, Polo! It’s so nice to see you!”

“Mama…who is Polo? I’m Mathew…”

Similar scenarios of muddled memories were pretty common with my grandmother, who had suffered with Alzheimer’s disease in her later years. The above dialogue was one she had with my younger cousin Mathew, and to be honest, my family still hasn’t a clue who Polo is.

While scenarios like these made us laugh at times, the harsh reality was that it was a bit frightening.

“Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. The disease accelerates the shrinking of the brain and the two main regions affected are language and memory, which gradually gets destroyed. This makes problem-solving and other cognitive skills increasingly difficult and affects a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks” (Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago).

The idea that someone could forget how to do rudimentary tasks was, and is, daunting. Even worse is that in many cases the affected person often can become disoriented, not being able to remember where they are.

In such cases, being intentional and creative with different elements of design can be quite helpful.

September 21 was World Alzheimer’s Day and is celebrated internationally through campaigns spreading awareness of the disease and mitigating the stigma that is often associated with it.

We have an ageing population here in Trinidad and Tobago, one that keeps jumping in its percentage every year, bringing with it an increased Alzheimer’s population.

The demand for amended homes and upgraded facilities for older persons is sure to increase, and so good universally designed spaces would be necessary to create safe, inviting, and comfortable environments, that you, your grandparents, and even Polo can enjoy.

Here are some tips to consider when creating spaces for someone suffering from this disease. The use of these tips is not strictly limited to those with the disease, but can, in fact, aid anyone and so can be universally applied.

Avoid repetition – Depending on the size and nature of the space, repetitive layouts can be confusing to someone with Alzheimer’s. For example, sometimes similar pieces of art may be used on the walls, or the same paint colour, or drapery pattern. A lack of differentiation can cause spaces to become less memorable, and so navigating through spaces can become challenging to persons with this disease.

Create memorable landmarks – Mary O’Malley, a dementia researcher working at the University of North Hampton, suggests that useful landmarks should possess certain traits. They should be:

• Unique – they should be one of a kind
• Salient – they should stand out from the background
• Stable – they should not be easily moved

Use contrasting colours – Macular degeneration occurs as we age and so the use of contrasting colours can help define spaces in an environment. For instance, a contrasting colour used on the nosing strips on stairs can effectively delineate the vertical and horizontal parts of the stair. On the other end, beware of using high contrasting colours on continuous flooring, as sometimes this change in colour may be perceived as a shadow or as a change in floor level.

Minimise background noises – Persons with Alzheimer’s sometimes have an increased sensitivity to noise, to the point where it can become overwhelming. The use of soft furnishings in a space can aid in the absorption of harsh noises, such as footsteps. Soft-close doors eliminate the banging noise of a closing door, creating a more comfortable environment for persons with this disease.

Also, in more medical settings, like care facilities for example, the beeps of monitors and machines are unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable for patients in the space, and so limiting such background noises would also be particularly helpful.

Proper signage and wayfinding – For persons with impaired memory, proper signage and clear sight lines can make the environment a lot easier to navigate. For instance, in commercial settings, there is often signage taking you to the bathroom, but there is often little signage directing you back from the bathroom to the other common areas, which can often be disorienting for persons with Alzheimer’s. On a more creative note, you can create signage without the use of words in some instances. For example, instead of labelling a kitchen cabinet with the words, ‘plates’ or ‘glasses’ etc., a change in the material, such as a glass insert, can be used to facilitate the same means of identifying the objects contained inside.