Before
As a result of working in dementia care for over two decades, both as an educator and at the bedside, I have made many observations regarding the environment for persons with dementia. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how some simple environmental modifications can enhance the quality of life and impact on behaviors of persons with dementia.

The clinician in charge invited me to visit Tick Tock Manor, a Special Care Unit (SCU) to make some observations. Naturally, in these times of tightening purse strings on our health care system, this clinician is looking for low-cost solutions for improvement in the environment. It is well known that there is no known cause and no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Before any of us get too depressed about this fact, we do know that one of the very best goals in treatment for Alzheimer’s disease lies in the environment.

In fact, when we lift the disease and embrace the person, one of our very best treatments is the environment. In particular, this clinician is looking for ways to modify the environment in the SCU. The very first feature I noted when entering the dementia care unit was the long, dark hospital corridor. (PEAP - therapeutic goal is to maximize safety and security). In the case study, Elsie is searching for her lost doggie on ‘this long road.’

Secondly, as we walked along, I noted there were many, many pictures hanging on either wall, narrowing the corridor even more. The environment for persons with dementia should be neither over stimulating nor under stimulating (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to regulate and provide quality of stimulation). The clinician agreed that many of these pictures, such as a medieval castle or a Christmas flower, were disorienting even for the mentally alert individual.

There was common agreement that it might be a good plan to remove the pictures. And she added that they already have some cans of paint that can be used to paint the walls in more pastel shades, eliminating the sense of darkness. This simple modification will be cost effective as well as enhancing the environment for persons with dementia.

As a plan to eliminate the perception of the long hallway, I suggested making three clusters along the way, utilizing benches at each cluster. The first bench will be a place where individuals can sit and look at the fish pond. The next stop along the way, there will be a bread maker. Who doesn’t love to smell fresh bread? And at the third cluster, there will be some nice soft classical music playing, where persons can sit and relax. This concept really draws the person to come and sit and relax while eliminating that feeling of the long, dark corridor (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to facilitate social contact). Gerry, who believes he is waiting for a taxi, can sit on one of the benches and talk to the fish as a form of distraction.

One thing I have learned very early in working with this population is that there seems to be nothing wrong with the person’s reading ability. In fact, many persons with dementia read very well. Everywhere in this SCU was signage, for example:

• FIRE EXTINGUISHER - what do you and I do when we see the word fire? We run.

• EXIT - what do persons with dementia want to do? Go home. ‘Hooray! I can get outta here!’

• PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH - as with our children, when we say please do not touch, what do they want to do? They want to touch (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to maximize awareness and orientation). Sam, shouting for help, wants to go home; seeing the ‘Exit’ sign may encourage this thought process.

Persons with dementia are constantly searching for meaning in their environment; they are drawn towards persons or things that will assist them to understand their reality. The goal is to keep the person connected with their reality; so why not have a real bouquet of flowers on the table rather than a picture (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to regulate and provide quality of stimulation)? As with Ingrid, she is trying to make sense of the world around her while snipping the sweet peas in her garden, persistence of a long-term memory.

Another major factor in our environment involves the people in it. As we were strolling through the SCU, I heard one of the professional care partners say in a loud, impatient voice, “Hurry up Florence, I already told you it’s your bath day” (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to support functional abilities). As depicted in the case study, Florence refuses to change her clothes; she has lived in an era where one simply did not change their clothes on a daily basis. Perhaps her care partner needs to communicate with Florence in a more respectful manner.

I later asked the clinician, “Is that care partner dementia friendly?”

As persons with dementia are constantly searching for meaning in their environment, it is absolutely critical that their care partners are communicating with them in a manner that is both orienting and friendly.

As in the case study, Mary is collecting briefs and towels from the cart (PEAP- therapeutic goal is to provide opportunity for personal control). This menial task allows Mary to exercise personal preference, choice and independent initiative to determine what she will do and when she will do it.

After
Naturally, transformation does not happen overnight. However, I toured this SCU setting a short thirty days later, and some major changes were evident every step along the way in Tick Tock Manor. I could actually feel the sense of calm.

The first thing I noted in the SCU was that the walls were now bare of pictures. And the old dark paint had been replaced with a very delicate eggshell colour. These simple modifications gave the illusion of making the hallway brighter and wider.

Secondly, I could see individuals sitting at one of the benches down the long corridor, gazing at the fish pond. As I came closer and introduced myself to Gerry, I witnessed a huge smile on his face as he was admiring the fish. “I like this,” smiled Gerry.

The bread maker was not in operation this day; however, the reports from the previous day was that the aroma of freshly baked bread was highly successful in comforting the person with dementia.

The clinician at Tick Tock Manor agrees that signage, such as ‘EXIT’ may possibly pose a problem for Sam and others who are wanting to go home. However, this environmental feature is critical in meeting the Fire and Safety regulations. Persons with dementia are always searching for home. But are they really searching for the place or are they searching for the feeling of comfort (de Geest, 2006)?

Following is an example of a highly successful communication, when Claudia, a care partner of Dorothy, engages with Dorothy in a dementia-friendly manner:

“Where is she, where is she? Did she go that way? I have to find her.” Dorothy is becoming agitated, searching for her sister (who presumably has been dead for over thirty years). Claudia responds in a friendly manner, “I saw her in the dining room. Let me help you Dorothy. My, that is a lovely neckline on you. All the girls are wearing that. It looks so sharp.” This strategy has charmed and distracted Dorothy for the moment. In fact, Dorothy replies, “Oh, do you really think so? Thank you.“ She takes Claudia’s arm, and off they go to the dining room (PEAP- therapeutic goal focuses on attempts to preserve continuity between present and past environments and the self of past and present).

A puppy dog now lives at Tick Tock Manor; he merrily is romping up and down the hallways, stopping only briefly to sniff and visit with friends along the way. Elsie looks on, smiling.

Finally, it was evident that the atmosphere in general, was calm and relaxed. I engaged with one of the care partners working that day in SCU, and she reported,

“I am amazed how much calmer the people are since these few changes were put in place.”