With the number of people with dementia in the UK continuing to rise, Forbo Flooring Systems has developed a new RIBA-certified CPD which examines flooring’s role in ‘dementia-inclusive’ buildings.
The Alzheimer's Society predicts that by 2040, almost 1.6 million people will be living with the illness. The same data reveals that 61 per cent of people with dementia are now living in the community, rather than in care homes. The flooring specialist said: “As we anticipate this alarming growth, it’s imperative we learn to construct more inclusive environments for those with dementia, to help make their lives easier.”
Forbo’s new CPD covers a range of topics, including ‘Why it is important to consider dementia when designing a building’, and ‘How a person living with dementia perceives the world’, as well as offering best practice design advice. Developed with guidance from the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Design Centre (DSDC), it is aimed at ‘anyone who specifies flooring for commercial and public buildings, or for those with a passion for creating inclusive environments’.
The CPD can be delivered as a live webinar from one of the company’s trained advisors, on a date and time to suit. Forbo’s account managers have been through the DSDC built environment design training, and thus ‘have the knowledge to explain with clarity why different environments can affect how a person living with dementia perceives the world’.
The first 30 to book a webinar will receive a complementary DSDC guide (while stocks last). A PDF and a recording of the presentation can also be requested free of charge. Forbo added: “While the CPD will be delivered virtually for the foreseeable future, there will still be time for questions at the end of the session.”
Donna Hannaway, Care Segment manager at Forbo Flooring Systems, said: “I am excited to announce our new RIBA-certified CPD, focusing on the role of flooring in dementia-inclusive designs. For many years we’ve worked hard to develop inclusive flooring options to help specifiers feel confident in creating spaces that will benefit everyone. With the help of the DSDC, we’ve devised this CPD to help those in the field go one step further, and gain a stronger understanding of a number of important core design principles.”
Since 2017, Forbo Flooring Systems has partnered with the DSDC to develop a portfolio of products suitable for ‘dementia-friendly’ environments; since then, over 1,000 of its products have been accredited by the leading research centre.