Habitual Activities for People with Dementia: The Role of Interiors in Supporting Their Development after Relocating to a Care Environment

Jing Chen, Silvia Maria Gramegna, Alessandro Biamonti and Yuwei Cao ()
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Jing Chen: LABIRINT Research Atelier, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Silvia Maria Gramegna: LABIRINT Research Atelier, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Alessandro Biamonti: LABIRINT Research Atelier, Department of Design, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milan, Italy
Yuwei Cao: Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: People with dementia have pre-reactive instincts, known as bodily habits, that allow them to continue with habitual activities. According to recent research, continuing and developing habitual activities in care facilities can help individuals with dementia establish a deep-rooted sense of home. Three aspects of developing habitual activity are critical in this process: continuing habitual activities fluidly, incorporating positive interaction into these habitual activities, and carrying out these habitual activities regularly. Based on this foundation, this article discusses how the interior environment of care facilities can support these three aspects of habitual activity for people living with dementia. Three cases in a long-term care facility were in-depth examined by using the microethnography approach. The study produced four themes. These themes emphasize the importance of organizing and managing the interior environment to support dementia residents’ habitual activities. In addition, it emphasizes that caregivers and institutional regulations influence the organizational role of the interior environment.

Keywords: people with dementia; care facility; habitual activity; interior environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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