Interiors: Architecture in the lives of people with dementia

Most elderly people, including the majority of those with dementia, live in their own homes, but a significant minority live in residential homes, nursing homes and hospitals. While a great deal of research has been carried out into the experiences of residents and staff in these latter environments, it is not at all clear what contribution the design of these environments makes to their lives. The physical environment is often treated as a confounding variable in evaluations; and theoretical frameworks are frequently too general in nature to suggest what role design might play. Moreover, these frameworks typically do not acknowledge the phenomenon of architectural determinism, even though it has important consequences for research designs. Alternative approaches, which attempt to be more specific in dealing with design, and which are not deterministic, are discussed. The practical importance of key concepts such as privacy and home is also highlighted.