About |
The Dementia Enabling Environment Virtual Information Centre brings together two of the country’s leading experts in environmental designs for people living with dementia - Jason Burton from Alzheimer’s WA and Professor Richard Fleming from the University of Wollongong. As well as having professional representation, the project also involves consumers.
The Virtual Information Centre responds to the increased demand for enabling environments for people living with dementia. It is an Australian first that translates enabling environments research into practice and focuses on architecture, interior design and gardens.
The Virtual Information Centre responds to the increased demand for enabling environments for people living with dementia. It is an Australian first that translates enabling environments research into practice and focuses on architecture, interior design and gardens.
Dementia Enabling Environment team
The Dementia Enabling Environment team assists architects, designers, landscapers, aged care staff, families and those living with dementia to refurbish or build future care environments and support families to adapt their homes by identifying key environmental changes.
The team can provide you with a wide range of practical, inexpensive and useful ideas, examples and recommendations as well as resources to make necessary changes and evaluate the outcomes.
Using the latest research, the team utilises a set of evidence-based practice principles which are the foundation for the design principles. Practical information and recommendations are given to architects, designers, landscapers, aged care providers, and families on how to improve the environment.
The team can provide you with a wide range of practical, inexpensive and useful ideas, examples and recommendations as well as resources to make necessary changes and evaluate the outcomes.
Using the latest research, the team utilises a set of evidence-based practice principles which are the foundation for the design principles. Practical information and recommendations are given to architects, designers, landscapers, aged care providers, and families on how to improve the environment.
Why are supportive environments important?
People living with dementia face a number of key challenges that influence how they see, feel and respond to a built environment. These challenges include:
It has been widely recognised that environments have a significant effect on a person with dementia. An enabling environment is one that promotes independence and supports wellbeing. Factors you should consider when assessing whether an environment is suitable for someone with dementia are:
- Short term memory loss leading to disorientation in time and place
- Perception impairment causing difficulty in defining objects and spaces
- Poor concentration affected by uncontrolled stimuli
- Loss of identity leading to impaired personhood.
It has been widely recognised that environments have a significant effect on a person with dementia. An enabling environment is one that promotes independence and supports wellbeing. Factors you should consider when assessing whether an environment is suitable for someone with dementia are:
- It allows for easy access and orientation;
- Surroundings are familiar to the person living with dementia;
- It supports meaningful activity;
- It supports a person living with dementia to participate in daily activities;
- It is safe, secure and supports independence; and
- It provides comfort.
Project Funding and Support
Alzheimer’s WA, in partnership with the NSW Dementia Training Study Centre at the University of Wollongong, was funded in 2012 to develop a national project that focussed on translating research into practice in the area of enabling environments for people with dementia.
The initial Dementia Enabling Environments project was funded by the National Quality Dementia Care Initiative, which included dementia experts from the University of Tasmania, the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (QUT) and Curtin University’s Centre for Research on Ageing.
The National Quality Dementia Care Initiative funded by the J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust and BUPA Care Services and was administered by Dementia Australia.
Alzheimer’s WA would like to thank Dementia Training Australia and SPH Architecture + Interiors for their support in developing the hospital environment resources.
The initial Dementia Enabling Environments project was funded by the National Quality Dementia Care Initiative, which included dementia experts from the University of Tasmania, the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (QUT) and Curtin University’s Centre for Research on Ageing.
The National Quality Dementia Care Initiative funded by the J.O. & J.R. Wicking Trust and BUPA Care Services and was administered by Dementia Australia.
Alzheimer’s WA would like to thank Dementia Training Australia and SPH Architecture + Interiors for their support in developing the hospital environment resources.
Who was involved?
The project involved the following representatives:
- Jason Burton, Alzheimer’s WA
- Professor Richard Fleming, NSW/ACT Dementia Training Study Centre, University of Wollongong
- Professor Roger Fay, University of Tasmania
- Professor Elizabeth Beattie, QUT, Dementia Collaborative Research Centre
- Professor Barbara Horner, Curtin University, Centre for Research on Ageing
- Brian Kidd and Kirsty Bennett, dementia specialist architects
- Tara Graham Cochrane, dementia landscape specialist
- Tara Quirke, consumer representative
The range of initiatives included:
Dementia Enabling Environments would like to thank the following for their support:
- Environmental audit tools for care settings
- Course materials for architecture university students
- Workshops for professionals and families
- A national library lending resource
- A virtual web-based centre of information and advice
- Advocacy for the adoption of good practice dementia design principles
Dementia Enabling Environments would like to thank the following for their support:
- James Foley for the illustrations.
For more information visit jamesfoley.com.au. - de Fiddes Design for Select furniture images.
For more information visit dfdesign.com.au - Dementia Training Australia
- The University of Wollongong
About Alzheimer’s WA
Established in 1982, Alzheimer’s WA provides direct care, support, education and information to assist people living with dementia as well as their families and carers.
As the dementia experts, Alzheimer’s WA works with those living with dementia and the organisations that care and support them, to have the greatest beneficial impact on their dementia journey.
Our services, advocacy, training and consultancy programs are based on a philosophy of understanding the lived experience of dementia. People living with dementia guide us, through all that we do.
As the dementia experts, Alzheimer’s WA works with those living with dementia and the organisations that care and support them, to have the greatest beneficial impact on their dementia journey.
Our services, advocacy, training and consultancy programs are based on a philosophy of understanding the lived experience of dementia. People living with dementia guide us, through all that we do.
Alzheimer’s WA also works in partnership with community, aged, health and disability providers. Our capacity-building model brings our dementia expertise to support the development of services and environments through training, consultancy and client service brokerage.
Our vision is a world where people living with dementia and their families are supported and valued on their dementia journey.
To find out more about our organisation, please contact us on 1300 66 77 88 or visit alzheimerswa.org.au.
Our vision is a world where people living with dementia and their families are supported and valued on their dementia journey.
To find out more about our organisation, please contact us on 1300 66 77 88 or visit alzheimerswa.org.au.
Dementia Specialist Consultancy Services
Alzheimer's WA's capacity building model brings our dementia expertise to support the development of your services and environments.
