Developing Supportive Outdoor Activities for People with Early Stages of Dementia

• Author / Creator

  Qusai Al-Khaldi

• The research presented in this thesis aims to develop unfenced facilities and supportive surroundings where individuals with dementia can live comfortably, securely, relatively independently, and be positively integrated into their communities. Specialized organizations exist for people with dementia, providing care and ensuring safety by isolating them to specific fenced surroundings and facilities because of the difficulties they may face in the outside world. However, the present research provides an inclusive look at the future of people with dementia in terms of establishing an open and unrestricted environment which embraces them rather than isolates them. Therefore, the focus is on selecting a suitable outdoor layout and incorporating design concepts to create safe, comfortable, and meaningful outdoor activities and services in order to achieve successful and effective integration for people with early stages of dementia. The research approach is to propose investigated solutions and concepts that may help trigger patients’ memory to support them outside the care centre. People with dementia experience difficulties recognizing routes or comprehending the cues that indicate the functions of buildings, thus the approach is to help avoid these difficulties by decreasing instances of disorientation, confusion, crowded and heavily trafficked areas, or sudden loud noises. The research presented herein develops a complete study to identify safe travel routes for people with dementia that prevent the risk of becoming lost or confused. This research aims to suggest changes in the surroundings of an existing senior home in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The anticipated solutions to achieve the primary research goal will target specific stages of the disease, the early stages, since patients in earlier stages will have better responses than patients in the advanced stages of dementia. The study will also reveal the potential difficulties people with dementia may confront outside the village as well as propose solutions for each obstacle. In summary, this research presents a humanitarian project that seeks to develop a secure unfenced village and open environment for people with dementia by providing therapeutic and relaxing surroundings, which will allow them to live among, stay in contact with, and actively participate in their community at large.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Reminiscence Therapy

• Graduation date

  Fall 2018

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3D50GD3X

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.