Knottingham Gardens: A Therapeutic Home for Moderate Alzheimer's Sufferers
Open AccessAlzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with the number of people afflicted with the disease steadily rising. Projections are that by 2050, the number of sufferers will triple to approximately 16 million, or 18.5 percent of the over 65 population. This fatal disease ultimately renders patients unable to handle their most basic needs. Even prior to this final stage, 24-hour attention is required to address symptoms and diminished cognitive capability. The two most common forms of care are at home by a relative or in a memory care unit. Non-institutionalized caregiving often results in an emotional and financial burden that heavily tolls the caregiver’s quality of life. Caregivers often abandon their employment either to be primary caregivers or because work becomes the burden. They also often cease engaging in their hobbies, socializing and personal care, thus experiencing higher incidences of depression and chronic medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and ulcers. On the other hand, memory care facilities are costly to the nation. Medicare and Medicaid contribute 150 billion of the 214 billion dollars spent on direct costs, making Alzheimer’s the most expensive health condition to the country. Typical memory care facilities are rather large in size and quite sterile in program and schedule. They commonly have long corridors, insufficient lighting, exposed staff work areas and limited multi-sensory environments, all leading factors in creating late-day confusion, also known as sundowning. Sundowning triggers disorientation, anxiety, aggression and wandering.Through interior design, a building can become an experience in itself. Lighting, textures, and color can all be combined to promote a safe and welcoming multi-sensory environment. This project’s focus is to construct an Alzheimer’s care home, in suburban Maryland, that implements industry-wide best practices, focusing on space organization, wayfinding and access to nature to support the residents’ independence and sense of self. The design will cater to baby boomers, and be small in scale to create a homelike feel and offer easy transitions between spaces. The program will prioritize family engagement and deflect part of the cost by operating as a cooperative. Finally, the residents will be encouraged to continue to be part of the community taking part in a robust activities program and offering different levels of interaction with the interior and exterior neighbors.
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