Dementia-Inclusive Hospitals/High Care Facilities
Access essential resources on dementia inclusive hospital and high care facility design. This page provides evidence-based guidelines, practical tools, and global best practices for creating safe, supportive, and accessible healthcare environments for people living with dementia. Whether planning new spaces or retrofitting existing facilities, find inspiration and actionable strategies to improve experiences and outcomes for patients, visitors, and staff.
Why Design for Dementia in Hospitals and High Care Facilities Matters
With advances in medical science, people are being diagnosed with dementia at earlier stages and may spend more time navigating hospitals and high care environments—not just residential care. Thoughtful design of these settings can reduce distress, support independence, and ensure dignity during times of vulnerability. It is especially vital to recognize that not everyone has access to a dedicated care partner; environments must empower all people living with dementia to safely find their way, engage in meaningful activities, and feel included. Investing in dementia inclusive design helps create safer, more humane, and effective hospitals for everyone, because a well-designed environment benefits patients, staff, and families alike.
Notice: Clicking these links will take you to third-party websites. We do not own or control the content on external sites and are not responsible for their accuracy, completeness, or opinions expressed. Please note, not all external resources may use dementia‑inclusive language.
Australasia/Oceania
National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines
Publication: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/national-aged-care-design-principles-and-guidelines_0.pdf
Dementia Australia: Designing dementia-friendly care environments
Website: https://www.dementia.org.au/professionals/designing-dementia-friendly-care-environments
Fiona Hornung - Can we create enabling environments within an established Emergency Department?
YouTube: https://youtu.be/JZp3qkbeYT8?si=t7wtr6OVwT-PVp0a
Europe
Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach
Publication: https://dementia.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/UD-DFH-Guidelines-2018-Full-doc-lw-res-compressed-A1.pdf
Dementia Inclusive Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach: Audit Toolkit
Publication: https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/trinityhaus/pdfs/dfh-audit-tool.pdf
Dementia Friendly Hospitals from a Universal Design Approach
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BXJoiCpfOu0?si=6FOvb4VzcMw9PPJW
Information Session - Dementia Inclusive Hospital Design
YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q0BNB8O1uEA?si=dJjJoEQ-JY_5VKat
Dr Sam Moxon - Why Dementia Patients Deteriorate in Hospital
Youtube/Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds8UX-0ObaQ
Designing dementia-friendly hospital environments
Publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664524012165?via%3Dihub
Developing a dementia inclusive hospital environment using an Integrated Care Pathway design: research protocol
Publication: https://peerj.com/articles/11589/
Enhancing the Healing Environment
The Enhancing the Healing Environment (EHE) programme, established by The King’s Fund in 2000, was a pioneering nurse-led initiative in the UK that focused on improving the physical and psychological environment of healthcare facilities. The programme aimed to empower multidisciplinary teams, including nurses, patients, estates staff, and community members to collaboratively redesign spaces across acute hospitals, mental health units, hospices, and later, settings for people living with dementia. By combining grants with intensive leadership and development training, EHE supported over 250 projects, resulting in demonstrable improvements in patient and staff satisfaction, enhanced wayfinding, increased use of art and nature, and therapeutic, person-centred spaces. The EHE emphasised involving patients and communities in design decisions, fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. In its later phases, the programme specifically advanced best practice in dementia-friendly hospital design, focusing on orientation, sensory comfort, and meaningful engagement. EHE’s legacy is its transformative, holistic approach showing well-designed environments are integral to quality care, healing, and dignity.
Please note that the resources from this site range from those published in 2003 to 2017.
Website: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/enhancing-healing-environment