Latest figures compiled by the Health Service Executive have revealed that there are an estimated 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland. With 63% of people with dementia living in the community, the built environment plays an important role in enabling them to access their community, services and supports, to stay included and connected to community life. The majority of people with dementia want to stay active, engaged and valued members of their communities. We have improved and adapted our environment to support people with physical impairments, so they can access places and services on an equal basis. We now also have the knowledge and expertise to design and improve access for people with dementia.
To design and build environments that are accessible and support people with dementia to stay connected, we must understand how the environment can affect a person who may experience physical, sensory and/or cognitive difficulties. Together with Dementia Design specialists, user groups and partner organisations, the Dementia: Understand Together campaign conducted two walkability audits, one in a community and one in a primary care centre, taking the physical, cognitive and sensory difficulties a person with dementia may experience into account. The findings are published in two reports and have led to the development of a new guide “Dementia Inclusive Design from a Universal Design approach - Creating communities that include and support people with dementia”.
This guide is now available on the Dementia: Understand Together website and can support local councils, town planners and other organisations in the creation of inclusive environments. You can find more information here:
https://www.understandtogether.ie/training-resources/helpful-resources/publications/
