Dementia - relevant articles: the care environment

This page contains a selection of article references on improving the care environment for patients with dementia, focussing particularly on the hospital environment. The selection is from a search made on the British Nursing Index database within the RCN e-library.

It is intended to illustrate the kinds of additional and supporting information that journal articles can provide, and to encourage you to carry out your own search in order to access a more comprehensive listing which will include abstracts.

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Selected articles on improving the care environment for patients with dementia in hospital

The list below combines a selection of articles on these topics found by a search done in September 2012 in British Nursing Index within the RCN e-Library.

If you find these articles interesting and would like to search for more, the following points may be of help.

Article details

Allen D (2009) Designed for a better life. Nursing Older People 21(3) pp. 28-29.
Looks at the value of audit tool for in designing improved care environments used by people with dementia.

Andrews J (2012) How acute care managers can support patients with dementia. Nursing Management (UK) 19(2) pp. 18-20.
Guidance for nurse managers including some discussion on redesigning the care environment.

Benham L (2008) A sensory stairwell. Journal of Dementia Care 16(5) pp. 16-17.
A stairwell was decorated in a day hospital in Weymouth, Dorset to provide increased mental stimulation.

Burns A (2011) Help patients see more clearly. Health Service Journal  121(6282) pp. 26-27.
Suggests ways to make hospital wards easier for patients with dementia to use.

Cook G (2011) Dementia care: sensory environments. Nursing & Residential Care 13(5) pp. 240-243.
Includes discussion on finding a balance between over-stimulating and under-stimulating environments.

Cosh J (2007) Lost in space. Mental Health Today pp. 18-19.
Use of colours and other factors to provide a dementia-friendly environment.

Cowdell F (2010) The care of older people with dementia in acute hospitals. International Journal of Older People Nursing 5(2) pp. 83-92.
Looks at some research done on the experiences of nurses and patients on care received in acute hospitals including the ward environment.

Cunningham C (2009) Auditing design for dementia. Journal of Dementia Care 17(3) pp. 31-32.
Describes development of an audit tool for evaluating design in dementia care environments by Stirling University's Dementia Services Development Centre.

Cunningham C (2006) Understanding challenging behaviour in patients with dementia. Nursing Standard 20(47) pp. 42-45. FT
Includes examples of how the environment might contribute to the development of challenging behaviour.

Daykin N et al (2008) The impact of art, design and environment in mental healthcare: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 128(2) pp. 85-94. FT
Systematic review on the impact of the arts, design and the environment in mental health care settings.

Dewing J (2009) Caring for people with dementia: noise and light. Nursing Older People 21(5) pp. 34-38. FT
This literature review looks at causes of sensory overload or underload in relation to improvements to the environment.

Duffin C (2008) Designing care homes for people with dementia. Nursing Older People 20(4) pp. 22-24. FT
Use of colour and materials in fitting out care homes to create a restful environment. 

Hughes J and Harris D (2004) The environment and dementia: shaping ourselves. Nursing & Residential Care 6(8) pp. 394-398.
Effects of social and physical environment on people with dementia in a care home.

Hunt L (2011) Environments designed to heal. Nursing Older People 23(1) pp. 14-17. FT
Looks at a number of Enhancing the Healing Environment (EHE) projects including creation of a palliative care suite.

Hunt L (2010) A change of scenery. Nursing Standard 24(52) pp. 18-20. FT
This also explores the importance of the environment in palliative care using a project at Bodmin Hospital Cornwall as an example.

James J and Hoddenett C (2009) Taking the anxiety out of dementia. Emergency Nurse 16(9) pp. 10-13. FT
Improving the design of A&E environment and services at a London NHS trust including designated cubicles for patients with dementia.

Johnson R (2009) Signing up. Journal of Dementia Care 17(5) pp. 20-21.
Use of individualised bedroom door signs for dementia patients on a hospital ward.

Marshall M  Delaney J (2012) Dementia-friendly design guidance for hospital wards. Journal of Dementia Care 20(4) pp. 26-28.
Looks at the guidelines and audit tool developed for general hospitals and emergency departments by the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling.

Mason M (2011) Environmental health. Nursing Standard 26(13) pp. 23-25. FT
Work done by the dementia nurse specialist-led project to improve the physical environment of the King's College Hospital dementia unit.

Peace S and Reynolds J (2004) Managing different experiences of place and space, part 2. Nursing & Residential Care 6(9) pp. 452-454.
Looks at some of the  issues around space and territory.

Phair L and Heath (2001) Environments and older people with dementia. Mental Health Practice 4(9) pp. 32-38.
Continuing professional development article on promoting a positive care environment with special reference to non-specialist care homes.

Pollock R (2008) Shedding new light on design for dementia. Journal of Dementia Care 16(6) pp. 22-23.
Advice on improving lighting in care homes and what needs to be taken into account when designing new facilities.

Price L and Grout G (2009) Environments that help, not hinder. Journal of Dementia Care 17(3) p. 21.
Describes project to improve the environment in a continuing care ward for dementia patients.

Richardson S and Richards V (2007) Nurses leading on activities in hospital. Journal of Dementia Care 15(5) pp. 16-17.
Development of a nurse-led therapeutic activities centre in a Swansea hospital.

Swann J (2006) Helping residents reminiscence: the role of the environment. Nursing & Residential Care 8(10) pp. 459-462.
Explains how a care home’s environment helped to promote memory in residents.

Turner L (2012) A legacy of inspiration. Journal of Dementia Care 20(4) pp. 29-34.
Describes the transformation of a hospital ward into a dementia friendly environment through participation in the King's Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment (EHE) programme.

Walker W (2004) Promoting a safe environment for confused older people at risk from falling in hospital. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing 8(2) pp. 72-76.
Suggests strategies for risk assessment and provision of a safe environment in hospitals.

Waller S (2012) Redesigning wards to support people with dementia in hospital. Nursing Older People 24(2) pp. 16-21. FT
Overview of the nurse-led initiative Enhancing the Healing Environment programme which encouraged staff and dementia patients to work together to create more therapeutic environments.