Design of Care Environments for Alzheimer’s Disease: Developing Design Proposals Based on Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences with Cases from Türkiye and Evaluating with Global Design Criteria

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a growing concern worldwide, affects memory, cognition, and daily functioning. As the need for supportive environments increases, interior design plays a crucial role in alleviating AD-related challenges by enhancing orientation, independence, and social interaction. This research aims to evaluate existing environments for dementia care facilities serving individuals with AD using evidence-based methods to inform future interior design efforts and to provide links between local cases and global discussions. This qualitative research is grounded in field observations from three Alzheimer's care centers in Turkey, semi-structured interviews with their healthcare professionals, and a comprehensive literature review. It evaluates the spatial layout, interior comfort, and facility equipment by examining their effects on patients' cognitive, sensory, and social well-being. The results are then compared to Alzheimer-friendly design principles developed by Fleming and Bennett, as highlighted in the World Alzheimer Report 2020. The results demonstrate that well-designed spatial environments can significantly support the needs of individuals with AD by enhancing sensory engagement, facilitating spatial orientation, and promoting social interaction. It also emphasizes the importance of customizing global design principles to fit local care practices. This research integrates international evidence-based design frameworks with Turkey's specific care context, supporting the development of therapeutic interior environments and furthering the discussion on dementia care design.