The Role of Interior Design Materialities in Dementia Care: Mundane Elements from the Past

Apathy, defined as an affective state characterized by loss of interest and indifference towards the surrounding world, has been widely identified as an important behavioural syndrome in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The aim of this paper is to inquire the existing relationship between materialities, meant as tangible elements of an interior, including various spatial elements, objects and bodies, and their role in enabling people with dementia to engage in spontaneous interactions with the surrounding environment, diminishing apathy. In particular, the authors extend the definition of “materialities of care”, including the visual representation of mundane elements typical of past decades, defined as “mundane elements from the past” including them in thematic collections of visual posters presented in an on-going pilot study. The placement of these collections in the spaces of a day care centre enhanced recognition and sense of belonging, enacting meaningful interactions and reminiscence conversations among people with dementia and caregivers.