Wayfinding behavioral patterns of seniors with dementia: two exploratory case studies

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Environmental Psychology
• Dementia Care

Background:

• Wayfinding is crucial for independence and quality of life, yet it declines in individuals with dementia.
• Current understanding of dementia patients' wayfinding behaviors is limited, hindering effective environmental design.
• Improved nursing home corridor designs can support autonomous daily living for people with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and characterize the wayfinding behavioral patterns of individuals with advanced dementia within their living environment.
• To identify specific behaviors and their frequency during wayfinding tasks in nursing home corridors.
• To inform the design of dementia-friendly living spaces based on observed behavioral patterns.

Main Methods:

• An empirical qualitative study utilizing fly-on-the-wall observation.
• Observation of eight individuals with advanced dementia across two nursing home corridors.
• Analysis of seven distinct wayfinding behavioral patterns.

Main Results:

• The most frequently observed wayfinding behaviors included movements, looking at surroundings, stopping along the route, and using verbal navigational cues.
• These behaviors were particularly prevalent at crossroads, which are decision-making points.
• High-visibility areas with numerous visual stimuli at crossroads, while potentially informative, may also increase confusion.

Conclusions:

• Wayfinding behaviors in advanced dementia are complex and context-dependent, especially at decision points.
• Nursing home corridor design, particularly at crossroads, requires careful consideration to mitigate confusion and support wayfinding.
• Further research into environmental design modifications can enhance autonomy and quality of life for people with dementia.