Dementia is a group of symptoms affecting brain function, leading to memory loss, paranoia, and difficulty learning. Dementia units should be quiet, have locked exits, and single-story buildings with a circular wandering zone. Staff ratios and training are also important.
Dementia is characterized by a group of symptoms that negatively affect a person’s quality of life and can lead to death. The diagnosis is made when a person is demonstrating deficiencies in at least two brain functions resulting in symptoms such as memory loss, paranoia, difficulty learning and retaining new information, and an inability to plan. A dementia unit is a facility or part of an adult care or nursing home that specializes in providing care to people with these problems.
There are no specific licensing requirements for a dementia unit. A person interested in placing a family member in such a facility may wish to investigate several locations before making a placement decision. The person should make notes on specific qualifications to make an informed decision on the best unit available.
Noise levels are important for dementia patients. The quieter the facility, the better, as dementia patients can be distressed by exposure to continuous loud noise. The dementia unit should be located on a quiet street, not only to reduce general noise, but also to reduce the risks of a patient being hit by a car if the patient is outside.
It is important that a dementia unit has locked exit doors or that patients wear alarm bracelets. This is for the protection of residents. Wandering dementia sufferers can get lost, as well as be at risk of being involved in road accidents or being robbed. If the facility has its doors closed, it is important that the dementia unit has safety procedures in place in the event of a fire or other situation where residents need to be evacuated.
Architecture is an important key to choosing a dementia unit. Single-story buildings are preferred over multi-story buildings to reduce the risk of residents falling or getting lost. Also, a building with a circular “wandering zone” is preferable to one that only allows residents to roam the corridors. Wandering down dead ends can be frustrating for dementia patients.
The colors used to paint the structure can impact the quality of life of the residents. Colors should be bold and “color-coded”. For example, all the bedroom doors should be one color while the bathroom doors should be a different color.
Staff is also a big factor in deciding on the best dementia unit. The lower the ratio of residents to employees, the better. It is also important to find out if staff have credentials or special training in working with people with dementia.
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