Design and Dementia

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

10/04/2026

You did everything right last night. The care was good. The routine was solid. And yet the resident barely slept, and this morning, the resident is tired and stressed.

What if the problem is the building?

New research shows that the design of a nursing home, specifically how light moves through corridors and rooms at night, directly shapes whether residents sleep well or not. This is something that we need to consider in dementia care.

This week we break down the research in plain language in our podcast, and share practical steps you can take right now, no renovation required.

Listen. Share. Tag a colleague who needs to hear this.
youtube.com/watch?v=6pRxKEWRXwA&source_ve_path=NzY3NTg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fdesign.dementia.utas.edu.au%2F

When we think about designing a good dementia care environment, we often focus on layout, signage, and wayfinding. But some of the most powerful design lever...

22/03/2026

22/03/2026

You may know that familiar environments are very important for people living with dementia – but do you know the many reasons why?

The Wicking Dementia Centre’s Environmental Gerontologist, Dr Jo Sun, chats about this in one of the latest episodes of the Voices in DREAM podcast. Jo designs dementia inclusive spaces and does research into this area globally. Discover more about inclusive spaces here https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/

“Usually when we talk about familiarity, people immediately think about reminiscence, but there’s also the impact on our actions, our muscle memory and our task-based activities as well.”

Listen to Jo’s chat with host Yashi to learn more about the importance of familiar, personalised and dementia friendly spaces in residential care homes, including in respite care – and tips to make this happen.

Find the Voices in DREAM podcast in the DREAM portal, herehttps://dream.utas.edu.au/, under the Network tab, or wherever you get your podcasts.

DREAM (Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring) is a partnership between the Wicking Dementia Centre and Dementia Support Australia. It’s funded by the Australian Government and is free to access.

20/03/2026

We know nature connection is 🌱is so important for our wellbeing! This wonderful video on a dementia inclusive forest trail in Woowookarung Regional Park 🌳 feature on Gardening Australia is a must watch!

Reflecting on the many tips, tricks and piles of compost Gardening Australia has broadcast over 1500 episodes, Millie’s standout memory is of a segment featu...

17/03/2026

Dr Mark Kirkcaldie from the Wicking Dementia Centre explains how dementia causes death, and how it can be prevented.

13/03/2026

Written by prof. Richard Fleming and delivered using AI, this presentation explains how the places we live in, visit, and use every day can support people wh...

12/03/2026

📢 The Final Survey is Now Open!
We're so grateful to everyone who has been part of our dementia inclusive design research journey, and we need you one last time! 🙌
The second and final survey for our study on co-designing a digital knowledge translation intervention is now open and ready for your input. Your voice has already helped shape this research, and this is your last chance to make sure it truly reflects the needs of advocates, people living with dementia, care partners, professionals, and the wider community.

🧠 Why does this matter? This study is working toward better digital tools (websites and social media) that spread dementia inclusive design knowledge, so that more people can understand and implement it in real, meaningful ways.

⏱️ The survey takes between 20–45 minutes to complete, and your responses remain completely confidential.
👉 https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=HLW9CF4XL4Y9F89E

Thank you for helping us build a more dementia-inclusive world! 💙

06/03/2026

Sheffield has become one of the first places in the UK to boost access to dementia research!

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first sites to recruit a dementia research nurse, with up to 20 sites across the UK expected to be set up over the next few years.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born today will develop the condition in their lifetime. Despite the urgent need to find new ways to diagnose and treat it, dementia research currently lags far behind other conditions

That’s why we’ve invested £3 million to embed dedicated dementia research nurses within the UK Dementia Trials Network across the UK.

The research nurses will guide people throughout their journey taking part in dementia research, helping more people to take part, and giving the power back to people living with dementia.

We know people living with dementia are keen to take part in research and find it incredibly rewarding, but so few are offered the opportunity.

We urgently need to expand the number of clinical trials available, with our research nurses increasing visibility and access to opportunities so that more people living with dementia from all backgrounds can take part.

Headline via BBC News

06/03/2026

🌿 What happens when therapy moves outside?

Imagine doing art therapy in the sunshine, listening to music beside a kitchen garden, or mindfully watching birds and bees with someone you love, not in a clinic, but in a beautiful public park.

That's exactly what the Living Well with Dementia project explored at the 5 senses garden. The results were powerful:
🌸 People felt calmer, happier and more rested
💤 Carers noticed reduced agitation and better sleep
🤝 Couples and families reconnected beyond care tasks, sharing moments of joy, not just responsibility
🏘️ Participants felt like valued community members, not patients
And the design of the space made it possible, level paths, accessible amenities, rich planting, and a welcoming non-clinical atmosphere.

💡 The message is clear, public greenspaces aren't just scenery. With the right design and programme, they can be places where people feel safe, included and live well.

👉 Read the full article here:
🔗 https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/569