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Over the past thirty years, our understanding of dementia has increased significantly. No longer seen as a natural part of aging, this condition affects over 900,000 people in the UK today and that figure is set to rise to nearly 1.6 million by 2040. Globally, dementia affects around 50 million people and is predicted to double in the next two decades.
Dementia can affect anyone, regardless of age or background. It is a complex and challenging condition that requires a holistic approach to both care and the physical surroundings.
As architects and designers, it is our responsibility to understand to the best of our abilities, the context in which we are designing. It’s no secret that the built environment we create can have a profound impact on the quality of life for individuals living with dementia. By incorporating dementia inclusive – evidence based – design, we can positively influence how a person with dementia perceives, experiences, and engages with their environments, ultimately aspiring to improve their quality of life.
Featured images: Plat Douet Dementia Village: a purpose-built community that is underpinned by evidence based design principles for designing for dementia. More details about this project here.
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