Exploring Dementia-Friendly Environments in Long-Term Care Facilities: Perspectives from Multiple Stakeholders in Portugal

Abstract

Current evidence suggests the importance of dementia-friendly environments in enhancing the well-being and quality-of-life of people living with dementia, particularly when they need to move out, either permanently or temporarily, of their own homes (e.g., long-term care facilities or hospitals). As dementia-specific regulations are currently absent in Portugal, most long-term care facilities are not designed to meet the needs of persons living with dementia. Also, this topic has not been the focus of attention by policymakers and researchers in Portugal and there is no recent scientific literature useful for planning new responses for dementia. To address this need, this study examines stakeholders’ perspectives on dementia-friendly environments in Portuguese long-term care facilities. Five stakeholder groups participated, including people living with dementia, caregivers, clinical and non-clinical staff, and experts. Through focus groups and interviews, participants discussed elements of a dementia-friendly environment considering autonomy, independence, mobility, stimulation, orientation, socialization, safety, and care assistance. Thematic analysis identified ten categories, emphasizing indoor (e.g. architectural elements, privacy, ambience, socialization, and safety) and outdoor components (e.g. surroundings, social spaces, and safety). These findings highlight collaborative design’s significance in enhancing the lives of people living with dementia and caregivers, providing comprehensive insights into creating purposeful long-term care environments.