Redefining Residence: An Alternative Memory Care Environment for single, childless persons with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Single, childless older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are among the most vulnerable and socially isolated demographic within this rising population. Individuals who do not have social support from partners or adult children experience barriers that hinder their ability to safely age in place while living with AD, resulting in social isolation and/or premature institutionalization. This practicum offers an interior design solution for the main level of The Lakes Memory Care Center, a long-term care facility for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. The facility is located on the site of the Dementia Friendly City Center (DFCC), a conceptual mixed-used development that provides a variety of housing options and amenities through the adaptive reuse of a vacant retail property. The goal of The Lakes Memory Care Center is to provide a supportive living environment that enhances the independence, sense of belonging, and well-being of residents experiencing relocation, while allowing them to remain active members of the surrounding community. The proposed design integrates evidence-based design strategies as well as theoretical literature related to retrogenesis, place attachment and wayfinding to create an environment that is tailored to the needs of this user group.