Exploring the contribution of housing adaptations in supporting everyday life for people with dementia: a scoping review

Abstract

The primary aim of this scoping review was to explore the contribution of housing adaptations to supporting everyday life for people with dementia living at home in the community. The study adopted a scoping review methodology which was guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers Manual. Four review questions were developed which subsequently informed the inclusion criteria and search terms. Eight databases were searched resulting in 2,339 records, with 13 papers being included in the review. Evidence from the review found that the most common adaptations were recommended and/or implemented to compensate for a person's physical limitations and for safety reasons, rather than adaptations to support activities of daily living for a person with dementia. Support to implement adaptations was provided by a range of professionals coupled with ‘trial and error’ approaches adopted by the person themselves, and these were seen as key enablers. Barriers to implementing and using adaptations were fourfold: (a) access to information, (b) knowing when to make changes, (c) carer resistance, and (d) the unsuitability of the home. It would appear that housing adaptations have a positive impact on both the person with dementia and the carer (where one is present), with some adaptations having a relatively sustained impact and being particularly effective if implemented early in the lived trajectory of dementia.

‘I can see what's going on without being nosey…’: What matters to people living with dementia about home as revealed through visual home tours

“…Illustrative of this more nuanced understanding, Nygård 17 explored life at home for people with dementia who lived alone and investigated the person's interactions with everyday objects and technologies, such as televisions, kettles, and cookers. These interactions were seen to be both creative and challenging in equal measure and where improvement in person‐centred design for people living with dementia would help to accommodate changing skills and abilities 18,19 . In addition, Newton et al's 18 .…”

“…These interactions were seen to be both creative and challenging in equal measure and where improvement in person‐centred design for people living with dementia would help to accommodate changing skills and abilities. 18 , 19 In addition, Newton et al's. 18 systematic narrative review on care home and domestic gardens and the experience of living with dementia, revealed the garden as a neglected area of attention.…”

The role of environmental design in enabling intergenerational support for people with dementia – what lessons can we learn from Japan

“…There is evidence to demonstrate that the spatial design of care environments has a significant impact on the functional independence and overall quality of life of people with dementia (Marshall, 2001; Bowes and Dawson, 2019). Design guidance for residential care settings encourages the adoption of physical features that assist people with dementia to negotiate the physical environment, for example, lighting, decoration, fixtures and fittings, assistive technology and physical adaptations (Newton et al , 2021). Design features within care facilities can either maintain or restrict links with existing social networks, for example, through the accessibility of spaces, or through restrictions to access based on safety or security concerns (Fleming and Purandare, 2010).…”