The common lounge and intimate seating areas benefit from natural light throughout the spaces to provide therapeutic sensory stimulation. Minimizing overstimulation is essential for this resident population – many persons with dementia function better in quiet, smaller spaces with familiar objects. This way, noise and visual stimulation are controlled to minimize and reduce stress. A major design aim was to create a highly supportive and practical environment for residents. To maximize daylight penetration deep within the building’s core, the design team added a series of large clerestory windows in common areas.

For those with dementia or memory impairment, the physical environment is especially important when dining – a warm and uncluttered ambiance is a must. Residents are easily distracted; a simple yet sophisticated color pallet is helpful.

Designing a residential unit that feels like home or a beautiful hotel suite, rather than a clinical space is essential – well-lit with clear wayfinding cues. A resident with memory impairment is further comforted if the environment is designed to allow for personalized details, such as the ability to incorporate furnishings, artwork, and family photos from home.

As with its overall design approach, the facility’s programming incorporates the latest research in dementia care. A range of spaces – such as dedicated activity rooms, workshops, and informal “living spaces” – support a proprietary dementia therapies programming called The Learned Environment. This unique program incorporates curriculum-based activities involving art, music, and foreign language to stimulate cognitive function. This project is also among the first memory care communities nationwide to incorporate Tovertafel, a unique system that uses sensor-supported light projection to help seniors living with dementia engage in specially designed interactive games, with proven benefits to physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being.