Characteristics of the built environment for people with dementia in East and Southeast Asian nursing homes: a scoping review

Abstract

The review found that the eight principles of design, when applied with cultural sensitivity in countries in East and Southeast Asia can identify gaps in knowledge of the design for dementia enabling environments and suggest areas for improvement. An assessment tool based on the principles of design will be able to provide a guide for stakeholders in the design, development, or modification of nursing home environments.

The Appropriateness of Adapting the Australian Environmental Assessment Tool–High Care (EAT-HC) for Persons With Dementia in Singapore

“…In Singapore, older adults aged 65 years and above make up 14.4 percent of the population, with the prevalence of dementia being 10 percent of older adults (Subramaniam et al, 2015;Sun & Fleming, 2018;Government of Singapore, 2019). With the growing ageing population, population of people living with dementia, and an old age support ratio of four and a half working adults to one older adults above 65, there is a growing number of residential aged care facilities developed to accommodate those who cannot, or choose not to, live in the community (Government of Singapore, 2019; Ministry of Health Singapore, 2019).…”

“…On the other hand studies have shown that the built environment can promote positive behaviours in people living with dementia and compensate for declining cognitive abilities. (Chaudhury, Cooke, Cowie, & Razaghi, 2017;Fleming & Purandare, 2010;Marquardt, Bueter, & Motzek, 2014) There are no validated assessments tools available in the South-East Asian region to provide an evidence-based evaluation of dementia-specific aged care facilities to inform the remodelling of existing facilities and the planning of new facilities (Sun & Fleming, 2018). The availability of a validated environmental assessment tool would provide a reliable platform of communication and evaluation for all stakeholders in Singapore working to develop best practice, evidence-based dementia enabling environments.…”

“…A tool appropriate in the cosmopolitan Singaporean context is also likely to be useful in other parts of South East Asia. A scoping review was conducted to find a tool that could be adapted to the Singaporean context (Sun & Fleming, 2018). The Environmental Assessment Tool High-Care (EAT-HC), a tool developed based on the Environmental Assessment Tool (EAT) (Fleming and Bennett, 2015) is a tool that is inclusive of people living with dementia who may be immobile or those requiring end of life care.…”

“…The Environmental Assessment Tool High-Care (EAT-HC), a tool developed based on the Environmental Assessment Tool (EAT) (Fleming and Bennett, 2015) is a tool that is inclusive of people living with dementia who may be immobile or those requiring end of life care. The EAT-HC was identified by Sun and Fleming (2018) as the best available tool to provide a standardised assessment to guide and evaluate aged care facilities for people with dementia requiring high levels of care for the Singaporean Population. This tool is in common use in Australia and is recommended by the Australian Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for use by aged care providers wishing to ensure that their buildings meet Standard 5 of the Australian Aged Care Quality Standards (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, 2018).…”

Effects of supporting facilities on memory loss among older people with dementia in care and attention homes

“…In some homes, finishes of different colours may be allowed to distinguish the different function zones (see Figure 2(a)). 37 A high colour contrast of the finishes can highlight important elements, while low colour contrast may reduce unwanted visual stimulation and may help older persons with dementia to identify the key information or features of a space. 38…”