Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa November 2019 | Page 62

RETIREMENT
Building dementia
friendly communities
Unique opportunities and requirements for developers
ALYSSON WATT
A
pproximately 50 million people are currently affected
by some form of dementia right now across the world.
This is increasing each year and will continue to grow
with increased longevity and the impact of our modern life-
styles. This unfortunate statistic provides opportunities for
developers and the retirement industry as a whole.
Dementia is a disease that encompasses Alzheimers,
vascular dementia and others. What makes dementia unique
is that the disease manifests itself in each person individually
and uniquely. When visiting a dementia care home, some
people can’t sit still, others shout, etc. Whatever their unique
journey of dementia what one should keep front and center
is that physically they are usually fit and healthy for most of
the progression of the disease. So, what does this mean for the
architect and developer?
People working in dementia care homes emphasize that
they are providing care within a home environment, whilst
providing optimum care. Person centered care is the goal. The
care provided is intensive. Do keep in mind that a resident will
be handled almost continuously. This has an impact on both
the resident and the carer. Hospitals work on a 1:5 to 1:2 nurse
to patient ratio depending on care between wards and ICU.
Dementia care works on 1:1 and with some residents receiving
a 2:1 ratio.
Issues unique to dementia and how
to address them:
Flooring
The power of flooring cannot be underestimated. A homily
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine
to share. A frisky elderly chap was trying to visit the ladies. A
simple solution was found. They placed a dark mat at the front
of each of the lady's doors. For him, this meant that there was
a hole at the front of each of the doors.
Flooring is critical in dementia care. It needs to be flat,
seamless, not shiny, slip proof, and not a dark colour. Polyflor
has an excellent paper on flooring for dementia.
Access to the outside
Very important to get a dose of sunshine, walk around a garden and
interact with the garden and/or pets. Some homes have chickens,
pigs, cats or dogs. Incorporating sensory gardens with wonderful
unique scents, beautiful flowers, buzzing bees, the tinkling of water
and birds encourages residents to engage with the garden and
perhaps remember how they pottered around their previous garden
– a sense of normality. Residents can pick flowers or vegetables they
have contributed to growing thereby boosting their self-worth.
Interior spaces
Do give extensive thought to the kitchen. The residents are
not able to cook an entire meal for themselves; they may
contribute to the preparing but that would be the sum of it.
An industrial kitchen that can cope with providing endless
teas, meals, snacks etc. is crucial to ensure maximum dietary
benefits and improve efficiencies.
The living areas need to be flexible to allow for multi
functionality. Seating, exercises with the Occupational
Therapist, family visits and numerous residents together all at
different progressions of the disease and what it means with
regards to mobility. Wheelchair access is fundamental.