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Outdoor wayfinding in dementia
- Authors:
- SHEEHAN Bart, BURTON Elizabeth, MITCHELL Lynne
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 5(2), May 2006, pp.271-281.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study aimed to investigate (1) outdoor wayfinding performance of people with dementia; and (2) which features of the outdoor built environment are used in wayfinding by people with dementia. Thirteen older subjects with confirmed dementia and 10 controls on outdoor walks were observed. Two accompanying researchers recorded performance in wayfinding, built environment features and use of these features in wayfinding. Results showed that people with dementia performed worse on wayfinding, even in familiar areas, but that they attended to similar features of the built environment and made equal use of features such as signs in wayfinding. It is concluded that research that investigates the built environment for people with dementia is feasible and may help guide planning policies likely to enhance independent community living for this group.
Neighbourhoods for life: designing dementia-friendly outdoor environments
- Authors:
- MITCHELL Lynne, ELIZABETH Burton
- Journal article citation:
- Quality in Ageing, 7(1), March 2006, pp.26-33.
- Publisher:
- Pier Professional
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This paper presents the findings of a three-year research project conducted by the WISE (Wellbeing in sustainable environments) research unit of the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development at Oxford Brookes University. The researchers were funded by the EPSRC EQUAL initiative to examine how the outside environment could be made dementia friendly. The research found that dementia-friendly outdoor environments are places that are familiar, legible, distinctive, accessible, comfortable and safe. The findings have enabled the researchers to provide some preliminary recommendations for designers, at all scales from urban design to the design of street furniture, on the criteria to consider in developing dementia-friendly urban areas.