Evaluating the impact of environmental design on physical activity levels of individuals living with a dementia in residential accommodation

The beneficial effects of physical activity on health care outcomes for aging

populations, and more specifically for individuals living with a dementia, have

been well established by international researchers across a range of disciplines

and care settings. The benefits for individuals living with a dementia

included improved daily functioning, sleep and mood, and decreased fears,

disorientation, agitated pacing and restless circuiting (Weuve et a!. 2004;

Zeisel 2006). Environmental design in residential accommodation was also

recognised as an important therapeutic source to promote the well-being

of older people, in particular individuals living with a dementia (Marshall

1998; Powell et a!. 2000). Environmental design enhanced cognitive and

physical capacities of individuals living with a dementia (Parker eta!. 2004).

It is therefore hypothesised that promoting physical activity levels among

individuals living with a dementia in residential accommodation will improve

their health care outcomes.

The focus of this chapter is the findings from (i) observation charts used to

measure physical activity levels of individuals living with a dementia and (ii)

audits to evaluate the environmental design of residential accommodation.

Other findings are reported elsewhere (de Vries, Traynor and Hum pel 20 1 0;

Traynor and deVries 2009; Traynor, de Vries and Humpel 2009).