FlatFlat

Office

Lounge

Dining

MainEntrance

Flat

Flat

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Flat

Flat Flat

Flat Flat Flat

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Kitchen

Activities

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FlatCourtyardGarden

In the UK Extra Care schemes have become a dominant model in the housing with care sector. However recently questions around the balance of care needs in these schemes especially for residents with dementia and the complexities of living in these environments have been raised. Archadia Architects have worked on a number of Extra Care schemes in the past 20 years and through this developed an understanding of the importance of not only the physical design but the care model and how schemes can foster a sense of community to improve the experience of residents with dementia. This poster will evaluate three Extra Care projects designed by Archadia through a series of diagrams focussing on design, care provision, technology, facilities and relationships between residents and the wider community. This will be supported by a number of interviews with care providers and residents cross referenced with research tools and guidance on dementia friendly environments. It will finally reflect on future models based on current research that responds to the challenges and opportunities that integration for dementia poses in the design of these schemes adding a valuable practice based contribution to this ongoing debate.

This poster accompanies a more detailed report available on the Archadia Website

Understanding the Complexities of Dementia in Extra Care Schemes through Holistic Design

Patching Lodge

‘Up to 1/4 of residents in Extra

Care schemes suffer from some level of

dementia’HDRC Report 2012

Beechwood Court‘Community around a courtyard’

‘Enhancing the Local Community’

‘Design of the physical environment has an important role to play in the health and

wellbeing of people with dementia. Building design that supports people with dementia

and meets their needs can improve their quality of life,

alleviate symptoms and reduce stress levels’.

HDRC Report 2012

Key findings and Reflections for Future Practice;- Benefits are gained from entrances and principal communal areas which are simply and clearly arranged with as few solid walls as possible giving clear site lines into spaces as they are approached along main internal routes.- People feel more comfortable in smaller communal sitting areas or in sub divided larger spaces maximising the opportunity for them to sit with their backs against a wall.- There is a need for more innovation in signage solutions that will assist orientation while retaining a domestic setting.- Buildings with distinct typologies assist in making them recognisable externally as do colour, symbols and names internally.- Safe access to the external world is important and exit controls need to be developed to meet the needs of residents with dementia and the staff that support them while retaining independence for others.- If the communal facilities are open to the wider community there should also be spaces provided just for residents which gives a sense of ownership.- Extra care schemes can provide a vital resource for communities; services provided in well designed communal facilities can support people with dementia in the scheme as well as in the local area.

www.archadia.co.uk @ArchadiaArch0208 941 5161Ashley House, 58-60 Ashley Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HU

Lea Springs is a development of flexi-care housing in Harpenden consisting of 38 part shared ownership and part rental self-contained flats for Housing and Care 21. Communal areas include a dining room, internet café and activity room. The scheme has been designed with a series of pitched roofs providing the appearance of individual houses giving the scheme a domestic scale, the design received a local award for enhancing the environment of Harpenden.

Beechwood Court is a new-build extra care housing scheme for A2 Dominion consisting of 40 self-contained flats with communal areas. The flats are generously sized and many benefit from large bay windows orientated to maximise natural light and views. There is an attractive courtyard which provides accessible outdoor space and other common areas including a hairdressing room and dining room with communal seating space adjacent to the front entrance.

Patching Lodge is a seven-storey 76-unit mixed tenure Extra Care housing scheme built on a prominent corner site in Brighton for Hanover Housing. The project is a landmark building in the Eastern Road Corridor with a striking design drawing inspiration from the seafront location. In addition to the extra care flats, several facilities are provided on the ground floor creating a hub for the wider community of older people. These include restaurant, hairdresser, chiropodist, coffee bar and a shop. Also incorporated in the building is a Healthy Living Centre run by the Primary Care Trust and a care link office to receive calls from older people using alarm equipment.

Lea Springs

‘Appropriate light levels can promote normal

patterns of waking and sleeping. Views of nature

and spending time outdoors are essential to

wellbeing’ Kings Fund

Assesment Tool

An award winning Chartered Architecture practice specialising in progressive design solutions that allow people to live with dignity.

Archadia Architects:

- The distinct colour scheme and art work on each floor provides good orientation, signage and wayfinding strategies give clarity to location of flats and communal spaces.- Plan designed to maximise natural light in both flats and corridors - Shop integrated in scheme works well for residents needs also gives people who struggle to go out a sense of independence. - There are a number of activities many run by a volunteer organisation called Lifelines that are for residents and the wider community promoting inclusion. - All staff on site are dementia trained and Hanover’s team also run a Dementia Friends service.

‘We could improve wayfinding by using

symbols for each floor or naming them’

Patching Lodge Staff

‘I think that the building works for

people with all different needs’Patching Lodge

Resident

Key dementia friendly design features include;

- Fully accessible design with a welcoming and clearly defined approach.- Communal areas allow for different types of engagement on a domestic scale with access to external patio areas and garden.- Flats designed to maximise natural light without glare, good sight lines inside the flats with accessible bathroom accessed from hall and bedroom and visible from the bed.- Colour scheme and wayfinding supports resident’s orientation, with alcoves and shelves provided for personalising front doors.- Seating areas provided for people to rest or stop in corridors with handrails designed to contrast.

Key dementia friendly design features include;

Key dementia friendly design features include; - Circulation allows residents to walk independently in a safe environment and the loop on the ground floor provides good access to communal spaces and courtyard garden.- The entrance is well defined and the distinct bay features give it a recognisable typology.- Courtyard design allows residents views into garden which is secure with seating areas and raised planters encouraging use.- Communal lounge at entrance is a domestic scale and its location encourages interaction with good sight lines to the dining space and bathroom.

‘The folding doors in the flats are really successful as they give people an option to have two rooms or open

plan, which can improve sightlines for residents

with dementia. They are lightweight and easy to use.’

Beechwood Court Staff

‘Lounge feels like an extension of

the home’Beechwood Court

staff

‘what more could you want from a

home?’Beechwood Court

Resident

‘Creating a Community Hub’

‘The flats are very well designed for people with

mobility issues’Lea Springs,

Resident

Flat plans at Lea Springs

Diagram representing communal space at Patching Lodge and the link to the wider community

Diagram representing different colour schemes on floors

Plan showing circulationexternal access and views

Based in South West London, with projects including Extra Care Housing, Residential Care and Special Needs Facilities.