Inclusive design can address functional needs arising from dementia.
by Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease
The physical environment plays a critical role in promoting quality of life for people living with dementia by partially compensating for lost abilities. When physical infrastructure includes design elements that are “dementia friendly,” and communities spread dementia awareness among its residents, people living with dementia and their families experience numerous benefits. Those benefits include reduced agitation and distress, improved safety, greater independence, opportunities for social engagement, and an overall improved ability to engage in activities of daily life.
As we age, cognitive and physical changes can make it difficult to navigate both internal and external spaces – our built environment. Dementia involves a loss of cognitive function, such as reasoning; and physical symptoms often include growing problems with movement or balance as the illness progresses. Design features described in the attached report help improve an aging person’s ability to navigate both inside and outside environments, and these considerations are
especially helpful for people living with dementia.
This document by the Age and Dementia Friendly Physical Infrastructure Team of the Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias was created to assist anyone involved in designing buildings and outdoor spaces across the Commonwealth, whether you are architects, engineers, designers, builders, city/town planners, regional planners, financiers, municipal and state government officials, or Council on Aging directors. The ideas in this document just scratch the surface of the many ways our built environment can meet changing cognitive and physical abilities. As you consider the recommendations, we hope these ideas will also stimulate innovation and other examples to showcase in future publications.
Attached document published September 2022
The Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias was established in August 2018 when Governor Baker signed Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018 into law. The Council is charged with advising the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Legislature on Alzheimer’s disease policy. The Council is comprised of the Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and a diverse panel of public health professionals, clinicians, health care providers, researchers, legislators, dementia advocates, and caregivers.
Adaptive Recreation: Hiking and Biking for Mobility Device Users
posted Feb 24, 2024
This U.S. Fish and Wildlife presentation by Quinn Brett focuses on trail information and trail usability.
The Trail Access Project Removes Barriers to the Outdoors
posted Feb 11, 2022
Their goal is to facilitate the removal of barriers to recreational trail usage through providing information, increasing accessible features, and supporting park managers in making changes.
posted Nov 9, 2021
Everything you need to know about planning, building, and maintaining accessible trails.
Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design
posted Sep 25, 2020
Exhibitions are complex presentations that convey concepts, showcase objects, and excite the senses. However, as museums recognize the diversity within their audiences, they realize that exhibitions must do more: exhibitions must teach to different learning styles, respond to issues of cultural and gender equity, and offer multiple levels of information. The resulting changes in exhibitions have made these presentations more understandable, enjoyable, and connected to visitors’ lives.
893 views • posted 10/03/2023
