How to design homes for dementia

The perfect ‘home’ for dementia is three things, above all – safe, simple and stimulating.

With one in 11 over 65s in the UK now living with dementia, building and adapting homes which are fit-for-purpose is a high priority and many would argue long-overdue.

The pressures on the NHS and care home system make it increasingly important that people are able to continue to live well and independently in their own homes.

Good practice on the subject comes bound up in new book, launched on Friday, by Professor Mike Riley, Director of School of Civil Engineering & Built Environment LJMU, architect Bill Halsall and psychologist Eef Hogervorst.  

In short, the trio present the practical design guidance backed up by more than 15 years of research by experienced designers and engineers.

“In particular we wanted to share lessons learnt from the most exciting ‘lab’ in the field – Chris and Sally’s House,” explains Professor Riley.

Chris and Sally's House is the nickname given to the Dementia Demonstration House at the Building Research Establishment’s Innovation Park. The project has been an ongoing experiment in what can be done to assist people living with dementia, looking at everything from simple design features to the more complex use of sensors, automation and socialisation.

The detailed findings from research using Chris and Sally’s House are presented and discussed in the context of design, planning and construction standards.

Mike says the book is important reading for architects, designers, engineers and project managers, but also anyone with an interest in learning about practical solutions to aid those with dementia to live well at home.

Design for Dementia: Living Well at Home is published by Routledge.