Therapeutic habitat for Alzheimer’s Disease

As the most common form of Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) causes behavioural, cognitive and physical impairments that affect person’s ability to function in daily life.Currently, research shows there is no cure for AD. Hence, a new paradigm is needed that focuses on minimizing the symptoms of AD and enhancing the well-being, listening empathetically to the experiences and concerns of carers, rather than focusing only on a search for a cure. From biology we adopt the term Habitat as the certain set of conditions that guarantee a species, to take root, spread and reproduce, in a given environment, aiming to propose the model of Therapeutic Habitat as a set of environmental conditions, specifically designed according to people with dementia’s needs, that involve physical, cultural, social and anthropological aspects of human life, enhancing well-being and quality of life. Methodology – After a first literature review, interviews with thera- pists and caregivers where conducted by the authors, in order to define specific characteristics of the Therapeutic Habitat model. Process – The focus on people with dementia needs is consistent with the literature on dementia care, which suggests that devel- oping a therapeutic milieu for persons with dementia requires a change in philosophy, from managing behaviours to empathically understand and meet needs (Taft, et al., 1993). An empathic design approach offers the opportunity to spot needs and problems of the user. As designers, it’s important to foster a meaningful collabo- ration involving caregivers, with the first-hand experience of the condition, and therapists, able to delineate the therapeutic needs.