Wayfinding in a Nursing Home for Advanced Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type

TLDR

Monotony of architectural composition and lack of reference points render wayfinding difficult for advanced Alzheimer’s patients. The study aimed to generate design criteria to encourage and facilitate wayfinding for advanced Alzheimer’s patients. The study used staff interviews and resident wayfinding experiences in a typical urban nursing home. Even patients with severe cognitive deterioration can reach certain destinations when environmental cues are readily accessible, but elevators pose a major anxiety barrier; visual access to main destinations and redundant signage improve wayfinding, whereas floor patterns and dark lines can disorient and cause anxiety.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to generate design criteria in order to encourage and facilitate wayfinding for advanced Alzheimer’s patients. Two sources of data were used: interviews with the staff of a typical urban nursing home, and a wayfinding experience with its residents. The results show that even patients with severe cognitive deterioration are able to reach certain destinations. Wayfinding decisions have to be based on environmental information that is readily accessible, so that the patient can proceed from decision point to decision point. Monotony of architectural composition and the lack of reference points render wayfinding difficult. The elevators are seen to be a major anxiety-causing barrier. Visual access to the main destinations increases their use and facilitates wayfinding. Signage has an important function, creating redundancy in wayfinding communication and compensating for the loss of memory and spatial understanding. Floor patterns and dark lines or surfaces can disorient the patients and cause anxiety.