Exiting attempts and wandering behavior among residents diagnosed with dementia-related illnesses were investigated. Residents were exposed to three test conditions: a mini-blind that concealed the view from the door, a cloth panel that concealed the panic bar of the door, and both the mini-blind and the cloth panel. During these test conditions, qualitative observations were conducted in addition to recording the attempted exits. The purpose of this paper is to present the qualitative findings in relationship to a model developed. The findings suggests that residents seemed to exit due to goal-orientation, exit-seeking behaviors, and attraction to the panic bar.

This exploratory study examined interior design projects developed using traditional hand‐drawing and computer‐aided design (CAD) techniques to determine if differences exist on seven aspects of design merit in the resulting design solutions. Junior‐level, interior design students (N=40) were matched into two groups based on their preference for hand‐drawing or CAD design technique and a baseline creativity rating taken on a previous project. Groups completed the same project with one group using hand‐drawing and the second group using CAD. Interior design educators used a previously developed instrument to rate each project on seven aspects of design merit: appropriateness, complexity, creativity, liking, novelty, originality, and thematic expression. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested each of the seven design merits to determine if significant differences in design merits existed for projects generated by the two groups. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) determined if differences existed between the hand‐drawing and CAD groups when the seven design merits were analyzed simultaneously. The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed no significant differences between the two design techniques on the seven aspects of design merit when they were used in developing an interior solution. Both hand‐drawn and CAD techniques were used effectively to generate viable design solutions. However, additional research examining the effects of these techniques is necessary before assumptions can be completely formulated regarding their impact on the design process.

Exiting due to wandering was a problem for caregivers in this dementia care unit. Previous attempts to control exiting by wanderers proved ineffective. We manipulated the view and light through a window using visual barriers: window blind, cloth barrier, and a combination of the two. The closed blind reduced exiting by 44%. The cloth barrier was the most effective solution, reducing exiting by 96%. The combination of the blind and cloth barrier reduced exiting 88%. These findings support those of Namazi, Rosner, and Calkins (1989).

ISSUE GOAL APPLICATION DESCRIPTION CONCLUSIONA challenge facing the profession of interior design is to create special care units in extended care facilities that accommodate wandering, a major behavioral symptom of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.This report informs interior design educators about the symptom of wandering, provides design ideas to accommodate the behavior in a safe and supportive environment, and suggests questions for further research.Designers can play a maior role in insuring the safety and well being of wanderers through careful planning of the interior environment.Wandering is a major symptom of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. In the past, individuals living in institutional settings have been restricted through restraint or medication. This often resulted in increased resident agitation. Today, care givers want to accommodate residents who wander yet still provide for their safety. Reasons for wandering are discussed and the patterns of wandering are described to give design educators an understanding of this phenomenon. Research is presented regarding strategies for discouraging unsafe exiting of the unit during wandering episodes. Finally, case studies and examples of current design solutions that accommodate wandering are discussed.Interior design educators will be able to use this information to help students understand wandering behavior and recognize the need to critically review the current literature when designing special care units for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Computer‐Aided Design (CAD) has become important in interior design education, yet there are varied opinions on whether the computer inhibits the creative process. This article examines the relevant theoretical and empirical research on creativity and learning styles and applies it to CAD technology. Ways in which the computer can enhance creativity and problem solving are also explored.