Självständigt Flöde : En studie om självständig orienterbarhet på Björnkullas äldre- och demensboende

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to examine how the design of the wards, at Björnkulla nursing home, affects the residents’ wayfinding ability and autonomy. Thus, the aim has been to make a design proposal that, trough color and design can increase the residents’ chance to independent mobility. Since the study aimed to examine how the environment affect and can support people with dementia, qualitative methods were used. Observations of the two dementia wards were carried out as a starting point, and as a means to compare the different design of the two wards. The observations were complimented by two informant interviews, with people linked to the nursing home, the head of unite and the occupational therapist. The result show that staff, in most cases, guides the residents between the common room and the residents own apartments. In addition, the residents ask for help when they need to visit the toilet and often remain seated in the same place throughout the day, with the exception of those who exhibit wandering behavior. The results clearly state that people suffering from dementia are dependent on the spatial design in order to orient themselves independently. The results also show the benefit of an open floor plan with almost immediate visual access to main destinations. The major weakness, of the wards current design, concerns the ability of the residents to independently find their way from the common room back to their own apartment. Mainly because the doors do not distinguish themselves from each other. This would suggest that the most important design feature, for a person suffering from dementia, is transparency. In the meaning direct view of the destination. Complimented by clear and distinct landmarks. The design proposal therefore supports aiming as a wayfinding strategy. As a result it contains a color-coding system, that distinguish the residents doors, and additional landmarks that facilitate wayfinding from one decision point to the next, when the doors are not directly visible. Also included in the design proposal is a concept that can help minimize wandering.