Wayfinding in a nursing home for advanced dementia of the Alzheimer's type

The aim of the study was to generate design criteria in order to encourage and facilitate way finding for advanced Alzheimer's patients. Two sources of data were used: interviews with the staff of a typical urban nursing home, and a way finding experience with its residents. The results show that even patients with severe cognitive deterioration are able to reach certain destinations. Way finding decisions have to be based on environmental information that is readily accessible, so that the patient can proceed from decision point to decision point. Monotony of architectural composition and the lack of reference points render way finding difficult. The elevators are seen to be a major anxiety-causing barrier. Visual access to the main destinations increases their use and facilitates way finding. Signage has an important function, creating redundancy in way finding communication and compensating for the loss of memory and spatial understanding. Floor patterns and dark lines or surfaces can disorient the patients and cause anxiety.