Construction of a ‘dementia-friendly’ home designed to help researchers learn about supporting those living with the condition will begin on the BRE Innovation Park at Garston near Watford this Autumn.
In a £300,000 project, the 100 m2 Victorian house will be adapted to cater for different types and stages of the illness, the aim being to allow sufferers to live independently by addressing their day-to-day needs. The tailored features of the converted terraced house have been designed by researchers from Loughborough university and building science centre, BRE. Once complete, it will act as a show home, and give developers, care providers, and families, an opportunity to learn about better ways to equip a home to help people with dementia. Academics will also study how the features are used with a view to further improving ways to support homeowners with dementia. Features will include:
- Clear lines of sight and colour-coded paths.
- Increased natural lighting.
- Noise reduction features.
- Simple switches and heating controls, and safety sensors in ‘high risks areas’ such as the kitchen.
The project draws expertise from several specialisms at Loughborough university. The demonstration house is based on the ‘design for dementia principals’ previously developed by Dr Rob McDonald and Bill Halsall at Liverpool John Moores university.
Director of BRE Innovation Parks, Dr David Kelly, said: ‘Our aim is to show how homes can be adapted to better meet the needs of dementia sufferers and delay the need for care by the state for months or even years. Currently, the average cost of state care is between £30,000 and £40,000 per annum. Creating environments which allow people to live independently at home for longer could save a significant amount. That money could instead be channelled into research that alleviates the condition and reduces the emotional stress to the individual.”