Barriers in living spaces and homes for individuals living with dementia

More than 419, 000 Canadians above the age of 65 are living with dementia. Individuals living with dementia have a difficult time living in their homes as it is not designed to enable independence or safety. Are there ways in which safety precautions can be integrated into their homes?

Activities such as falling and wandering might have the potential to put an individual living with dementia at risk. A living space designed specifically for individuals living with dementia should reduce physical injuries. Evaluating potential triggers or hazardous circumstances can lead to the design of a safe living space. Since dementia includes a large range of disorders and individuals living with dementia are on a continuum of support and care needs, it is crucial to help the aging population feel a sense of autonomy in their own homes.

There is limited information available on the design of living spaces and exploring current limitations will lead to the development of dementia-friendly designs of living spaces.