Living well at home
On the back of the commission on the future of long-term care report, published by Alzheimer’s Scotland, we echo the view that people living with a diagnosis of dementia want to live well at home for as long as possible.
Sadly, what we see is a number of people with dementia having to leave their homes because adaptations cannot be made. On the back of the future of long-term care report, we want to start thinking about how we as a community can design homes that allow us to age in them for longer and in better health. This will help a person with dementia to remain in their environment and support their identity.
The DSDC has advocated for this for 35 years, and below you can learn more about two of our dementia-friendly design resources.
Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Tool (EADDAT)
This tool is a valuable resource for influencers of the built environment, health and social care practitioners, and individuals supporting a loved one with dementia. It can be used for existing, new-build, and refurbishment projects across a range of settings; including within the home, cafes, restaurants, care homes, day care centres, hospitals, and faith buildings.
Designing Homes for Healthy Cognitive Ageing
This is an innovative and ambitious UKRI-funded research project based at the University of Stirling. The project explores supportive home design and adaptations from many different perspectives. It includes an interactive viewer which allows you to experience dementia-friendly design in real-time. You can explore ideas and what your home could look like with only a few design considerations.
Written by Miki Max Fagerli-Schmidt and David Wilson-Wynne