Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
3.5.2 Planning Considerations
3.5
Alzheimer's Care and
Dementia Support
1. Residents and Alzheimer's Care
The Nursing Home should be ready to
3.5.1 General
respond to residents experiencing any
and all of the following:
It is estimated that people with
diminished memory are the predominant
Flawed judgment affecting personal
resident population of Nursing Homes,
safety
accounting for 50-75% of the residents
present on a typical day. Estimates
Insufficient attention span for eating
include the following:
and drinking fluids, dressing, and
exercising
44% are identified with dementia and
Difficulties processing information
28% are described as depressed;
and/or recalling immediate events or
54% of US Nursing Home residents
sequences
are part of behavior management
Difficulty in multi-tasking
programs; and
Greater risk of falls
7-15% wander.
Wandering, pacing, and rummaging
Inability to make needs known
Alzheimer's Association estimates that
Difficulties translating from symbols
the prevalence of the disease is
to actions
expected to increase along with the
Confusion in larger groups and
increase in people over 85 years, from
unfamiliar surroundings.
about 4.5 million in 2000 to 5.5 million in
2020 and perhaps 9 million in 2040.
2. Other Related Sub-Populations
Served
Nursing Homes increasingly offer
In addition to adult onset cognitive
specific programs and facilities for two
decline, veterans care may include
sub-populations of their cognitively
dedicated programs and provision of
impaired residents:
small units for people with other defined
behavioral challenges such as:
Those who suffer from diminished
memory and flawed judgment but
Post-traumatic stress syndrome;
are active and fairly physically adept.
Severe clinical depression;
Those who are profoundly physically
History of substance use;
and mentally impaired.
Chemical exposures and
dependencies; and
There is no one accepted practice for
Recommendations for small group
meeting these population needs. As
units respond to basic unit layout,
sponsors have gained experience in
operations, and applicable safety
improvising care and services for these
and security.
individuals, they have increasingly relied
on the environment as a critical
3. Staff and Alzheimer's Care
resource for their dementia care
Alzheimer's disease and related
services.
conditions progressively transform
3 - 43
Office of Facilities Management
Previous Page
