Wayfinding difficulties among elders with dementia in an assisted living residence

Caspi, Eilon

doi:10.1177/1471301214535134

Cited by 36 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Our ability to learn, remember and navigate spatial environments is an important function related to every aspect of our lives. Yet, in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, the ability to navigate through and successfully find one’s way from one place to another is often impaired (Caspi, 2014). In this review, the literature reviewing the use of visual cues to help persons find their way in build environments is discussed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is strong evidence (see background) that even in normal aging, wayfinding ability declines (Davis & Therrien, 2012; Moffat, 2009; Rodgers, Sindone III, & Moffat, 2012), and that persons with Alzheimer’s disease are at a very high risk for wayfinding problems even in the beginning stages of the disease (Caspi, 2014; Marquardt, 2011). Based on this literature review, there is evidence to support the following recommendations for practice:

Persons with dementia are impaired at wayfinding but can still learn .

…”

Section: Summary Of the Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the disease progresses, getting lost can become a profound problem for persons with AD and their caregivers, even leading to institutionalization or death if individuals get lost in the community (Rowe, 2003). In a qualitative study of persons with moderate stage dementia in an assisted living residence, Caspi (2014) describes the wayfinding problems experienced. She found that the residents had problems locating “their own apartments, public or private bathrooms, main activity room, dining rooms, and dining room table and seat” (p. 442).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

Davis¹,

Weisbeck²

2016

J Gerontol Nurs

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The ability to find one’s way in the world, known as wayfinding, is impaired in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Senior residential environments such as independent living, assisted living, and nursing home residences are often especially difficult for wayfinding, with long, non-distinctive hallways and poorly differentiated routes. Wayfinding problems can cause anxiety, distress, and decreased interaction in persons with dementia. Visual cues are one promising intervention to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease find their way more easily. This article reviews research studies that examine the influence of visual cues on wayfinding. The literature shows evidence that persons with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty wayfinding, yet can still learn their way if the environment is supportive for wayfinding. There is beginning evidence that colorful, familiar (easily identified), and personally meaningful cues placed at key decision points and the residents’ rooms can help persons with Alzheimer’s find their way.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persons with dementia are impaired at wayfinding but can still learn .

…”

Section: Summary Of the Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

Davis¹,

Weisbeck²

2016

J Gerontol Nurs

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“…We are interested in understanding how you may use features in the environment when getting to and from locations. While there are some studies that ask home staff about residents’ orientation (Caspi 2014), very little research asks the residents for their perspective and views surrounding this topic.This information will be extremely beneficial in helping shape and specify design guidelines for living spaces, by informing the guidelines how people use the environment; it will identify if there are any features that are more helpful than others when moving throughout the home.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

‘All the corridors are the same’: a qualitative study of the orientation experiences and design preferences of UK older adults living in a communal retirement development

et al. 2017

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Abstract:Environments need to be designed such that they support successful orientation for older adults and those with dementia who often experience marked difficulties in their orientation abilities. To better understand how environments can compensate for decreasing orientation skills, voice should be given directly to those experiencing dementia to describe how they find their way and to understand their design preferences. This study explored the navigational experiences and design preferences of older adults with memory difficulties living in a retirement development. In-depth semi-structured interviews with thirteen older adults experiencing memory difficulties were conducted. All participants were residents of one retirement development in the UK. Questions began broadly, for example, to describe their experiences of navigating in their living environment, before discussing any specific navigation difficulties in detail. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: highlighting environmental design that causes disorientation; strategies to overcome disorientation; and residents' suggestions to improve the design. The design suggestions were particularly informative, heavily focusing on the importance of having memorable and meaningful spaces which were favoured more than signage as an orientation aid. The findings demonstrate the need to consider environmental design to support orientation for those with memory difficulties. Of particular importance is the use of meaningful and relevant landmarks as orientation aids which can additionally stimulate conversation and increase well-being.Given the range of suggestions in dementia friendly design guidelines aimed to support orientation, it is crucial to speak directly to those living in different environments to learn how they find their way around and what design works in their environment.

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“…There is reporting upon wayfinding elsewhere, in which there are accounts that examine other similarly large spaces, where it is more readily acknowledged that people may need help-for example in large care homes (see Caspi, 2014) or where they may be in a hurry, like airports (see Symonds, 2017). Such literature will be drawn upon here and supplemented with a cruising context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

Fallon¹,

Symonds²,

Iacono³

2019

IJSW

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Wayfinding on board a large cruise ship might be mistakenly thought to be easy and straightforward and this may well account for the absence of literature on this topic. This paper will address this gap by exploring and exposing the influencers in shaping our everyday practices whilst cruising, itself a moving experience carrying us by consent across the seas to distant shores.There is reporting upon wayfinding elsewhere however, in which there are accounts that examine other large spaces, where it is more readily acknowledged that people may need help for example in care homes (see Caspi 2014) or where they may be in a hurry, like airports (see Symonds 2017). Such literature will be drawn upon here and supplemented with the cruising context.

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Wayfinding difficulties among elders with dementia in an assisted living residence

Cited by 36 publications

References 41 publications

Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

‘All the corridors are the same’: a qualitative study of the orientation experiences and design preferences of UK older adults living in a communal retirement development

Your Guess is as Good as Mine

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