Feared and forgotten; but no more.

A rapidly aging population is resulting in increasing numbers of people with dementia. Unfortunately, the New Zealand population affected by this medically incurable disease are eventually being forced into institutionalised aged care facilities. The lack of human-centred design in these facilities results in numerous problems that fundamentally induce a poor quality of life (QoL) and wellbeing of the service users. Architecture has the proven capability to not only give the individuals a sense of autonomy, but also decelerate, and in some cases stabilise, their health and wellbeing. Providing an opportunity to allow this growing population to enjoy a greater quality of life, like the rest of us.

This thesis explores existing literature that ought to solve issues experienced by service users in current aged care facilities. While also examining successful case studies which implement these solutions, I aspire to create a ‘home away from home’ for not only the service users, but the wider dementia community inclusive of nurses, caregivers, families, and the local community. A research-through-design methodological approach will hope to determine how can architecture improve the quality of life and prolong the general wellbeing of people living with dementia? The need for specifically designed architecture in terms of wayfinding, environment and activity was identified in the literature review to provide a sense of autonomy, identity and stimulation for the service users. This will form the framework for this design.

Applying this gained knowledge to a research-through-design methodology, should produce an optimum outcome. This research intends to build a model that utilises the specific design strategies discovered that reduces the problems commonly experience by the service users. This model hopes to create a necessary movement in New Zealand away from institutionalised aged care facilities and towards specialised environments carefully designed for people with Dementia.