Design and Dementia

04/06/2026

Most of us step outside without thinking. For many people in residential care, that door stays shut. A new Swedish study shows that when staff see gardens, balconies and streets as part of care, not a “nice extra,” residents eat better, feel calmer and have more choice in their day.

Yet some staff had never even been into their own facility’s garden.

👉 Curious what changes when “going outside” becomes core dementia care?
Read about it here https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/index.php?AP=news&ACT=view_news&news_id=594

01/06/2026

What happens when we redesign dementia care to feel less like a facility… and more like a community?

A study exploring dementia villages offers a powerful look at how care changes when the environment changes. Staff described a shift from supervision to trust, from task-driven routines to shared everyday life, and from managing behaviour to supporting personhood. But it’s not without challenges. Greater freedom of movement brings new decisions around safety, risk, and responsibility.

Read more for the key takeaways! https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/593

28/05/2026

Congratulations to Professor Jane Alty and Professor Michele Callisaya who this week at the 7th World Parkinson Congress (WPC 2026) in Phoenix, Arizona received the WPC Distinguished Collaborative Research Award.

This honour reflects their remarkable dedication to improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s through research, leadership, education, and meaningful collaboration. Their work strengthens the global Parkinson’s community and inspires all who strive for better outcomes and greater understanding for people living with Parkinson’s.

Professors Jane Alty and Michele Callisaya created the Parkinson’s MOOC because they believe learning can spark hope, confidence, and genuine community.

Jane, a neurologist with over twenty years’ experience in Australia and the UK, shaped the course’s direction and clinical content. Michele, a physiotherapist diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2020, brought both her allied‑health expertise and lived experience — deepened further after attending the 2023 World Parkinson’s Congress with Jane.

Together, they created a free online course that has reached over 30,000 people across 160 countries, featuring more than 90 personal stories and expert insights from people with Parkinson’s, families, researchers, and clinicians — all learning from one another.

Their research has an impact that is felt locally, nationally, and globally — and this honour reflects that.

🌐parkinsons.utas.edu.au

21/05/2026

Prefer a written version of this week's podcast on the home environment and dementia risk? No problem, the blog version is ready, and it's a quick read.

This week we're looking at a new peer-reviewed study in The Gerontologist that asks a simple question, when it comes to dementia risk, what matters more, your home or your neighbourhood? If you didn't get a chance to listen, the blog covers the same story in plain language, what the study found, what it means for families, care workers, designers and policymakers, and the small home changes that may matter more than we realised.

Read it here: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/592

17/05/2026

New podcast episode is up! Most of us picture dementia prevention as crosswords, walking, friendships, the neighbourhood. We don't usually picture the rug in the hallway, the bulb in the bathroom, or the step at the back door. A brand-new study in The Gerontologist suggests maybe we should. In this episode I walk through a nine-year study of 5,389 older adults,
- Why indoor home hazards were linked to risks of dementia
- Why older women, in particular, may be more exposed to indoor risks
- What this means for families, care workers, designers and policymakers
A short, plain-language listen for anyone who cares about ageing well, dementia-inclusive design, or someone they love living at home.

Listen now: https://youtu.be/fGhL0V2nJVA

The Design and Dementia Podcast explores the growing body of evidence on how the built environment shapes the lives of people living with dementia. Hosted by...

14/05/2026

Familiar’ means more than floral curtains and an old armchair.

A new international review just asked what familiarity actually means and found it is a powerful design tool, not a vague feeling. When homes look, sound and smell like “someone’s place” rather than a facility, residents eat better, feel calmer and cope with care more easily, but what feels familiar is deeply personal and cultural.

If you care about dementia, aged care or design, this blog shows how to move beyond generic “homelike” décor toward spaces that genuinely feel like home for the people who live there.
👉 Blog post: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/588

11/05/2026

Can a street help someone stay home with dementia longer?

A 2026 study of family caregivers found that once a person has a dementia diagnosis, feeling that the neighbourhood is safe can boost their chances of ageing in place, every small improvement in perceived safety really counts.

If you care about dementia, urban planning, public health or just being a good neighbour, this piece is a must‑read on why dementia‑inclusive streets and neighbourhoods matter just as much as dementia‑inclusive homes.
👉 Blog post: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/587

08/05/2026

Familiar’ means more than floral curtains and an old armchair.

An international review just asked what familiarity actually means for people with dementia in nursing homes and found it is a powerful design tool, not a vague feeling. When homes look, sound and smell like “someone’s place” rather than a facility, residents eat better, feel calmer and cope with care more easily, but what feels familiar is deeply personal and cultural.

If you care about dementia, aged care or design, this blog shows how to move beyond generic “homelike” décor toward spaces that genuinely feel like home for the people who live there.
👉 Blog post: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/588

08/05/2026

What if dementia design wasn’t just ‘nice to have’ but a basic human right?

A new international study brought together people living with dementia, family carers, architects, even UN and political leaders to agree on what truly dignified dementia design looks like.

If you care about homes, care facilities, architecture, or ageing with dignity, you need to read this.
👉 Blog post: https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/586https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/586

19/04/2026

Physical design is a care intervention.

That is the central finding of a major new meta-review covering 250 dementia care studies. The brightness of a corridor. The number of residents in a unit. Whether there is a garden. These decisions have clinical consequences.

Our latest blog and podcast episode breaks down what the evidence says and what you can do with it.

Link below. Worth sharing with your team.
https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/579