Orientation and wayfinding in interior living spaces for people living with dementia

Just like everyone else, the physical environment has a great potential to affect the wayfinding abilities of older adults. When it comes to dementia, which is very common in old age and causes deterioration in the brain, wayfinding in the physical environment becomes a much more sensitive issue. Dementia causes psychological, cognitive and physical changes with the deterioration of the brain functions and limits the person's ability to interact with the environment. Since the impairment in their ability to cope with their environment, wayfinding in physical environment is particularly difficult for people living with dementia. The deterioration, which starts with not being able to find direction in public spaces, getting lost on the street and wandering, can progress to the level of confusing the rooms of their own house and getting lost in the house. The importance of the physical environment increases when person's mental and physical abilities decrease. According to many researches and field studies, it is thought that, even if there are various risks in using the physical environment, individuals with dementia should continue to interact with their environment as independently as possible. Therefore, creating accessible environments that support the wayfinding abilities of individuals with dementia is important for maintain their independent access. This study comprehensively discusses design practices that will support orientation and wayfinding in dementia friendly living spaces, with the knowledge gained from research in the field. First of all, dementia syndrome, which is the source of the research, is discussed together with its definitions, symptoms and the changes it causes. In the following section, the factors affecting indoor orientation and wayfinding for individuals with dementia, which constitute the scope of the research, are examined under the headings of indoor features and discussed in a comprehensive way with examples. In the next section, examples of nursing homes from around the world are analyzed in terms of their orientation and wayfinding features. In the last part of the study, preliminary information about the number, care and institutional services of individuals with dementia in Turkey is given and current approaches are examined in dementia sensitive living places in Turkey through a living center in Ankara. The study is completed with evaluation and conclusion.