The rising incidence of dementia in Australia needs to be matched by an increased awareness among designers, architects, town planners and businesses about making public spaces comfortable for people living with the condition.
That is the message emerging from a new international publication which emphasises the role of design in allowing people with dementia to enjoy their homes and places in the community for as long as possible.
“The first thing is that I don't think it's on people's agenda,” said Colm Cunningham, the director of HammondCare’s Dementia Centre.
“But we want to make sure that the challenges of living in the community are minimised so that those challenges don't become the tipping point for somebody to think that is all too hard.”
Toilets are a particular focus. If public toilets are not readily available and easily identified, it can ruin a day for a demographic at a heightened risk of incontinence.
A new report stresses the importance of considering people with dementia when designing urban spaces. Credit: Danielle Smith
But even if toilets are available, it is helpful if they are designed with all ages in mind. It can be helpful for toilets to be of a colour that clearly distinguishes them from their background, especially if the bathroom surrounds are white.
Fancy taps and high-tech hand-dryers also may not be worth the investment.
“We often have people getting stuck in bathrooms where they can't work out how to get out or how to use the taps,” said Professor Cunningham, who emphasised the importance of design in a recent article in the 2019 Alzheimer Diseases International Report.
“We recommend straightforward traditional twist taps with hot and cold.”
Demographic trends underline the importance of dementia-related considerations. Almost 450,000 people are estimated to live with dementia in Australia, a number expected to increase to 590,000 within a decade and reach above a million by 2058.
A report in May by the Committee for Sydney argued the city lacked the transport, housing and healthcare facilities to meet the needs of an ageing population.
The list of items that can be better designed with thoughts of dementia is inexhaustible. But those cities and organisations that have prioritised dementia considerations have tended to focus on everyday places - transport hubs, cafes, and community centres.
“York [in England] was one of the first cities in the world to seek to be what's somehow described as dementia friendly or dementia inclusive,” Professor Cunningham said.
“The first thing it did was look at its public transport, because it was thinking that if you’re socially isolated you’re in trouble.”
Easy hand rails, possibly differentiated in colour, can help on the bus. Professor Cunningham also advises “avoiding the trend of heavily patterned seating,” which can be off-putting to a tired eye, on seats reserved for the elderly.
On rail platforms, the yellow stripe that warns passengers about the tracks, can also serve as a mental barrier for people approaching the trend.
"It's a balance ... you do need to have a yellow strip ... but you might also have staff who are aware, and can help compensate by being with the person and talking to them and helping them step over."