Wayfinding is a design method used to help people determine a path of travel in an unknown or foreign environment. It is a navigation tool that’s normally utilized by hospitals, colleges, even malls. Even though it is supposed to be a tool that helps aide in navigation, it can also cause much confusion that can still result in a state of confusion, being lost, or headed in the complete wrong direction. Depending on the type of Wayfinding being used, the end result will either serve its main purpose as a compass or serve as a detriment and hindrance to the end user. In terms of memory care, these results are intensified.
Most often, Wayfinding is established either by the use of color or by signs with words or arrows, or sometimes both. In the memory care field residents have a habit of wandering. Usually this happens because they get sidetracked and lose focus on where it is that they are going, or they simply just forget. In memory care units, “wayfinding problems can cause anxiety, distress, and decreased interaction in persons with dementia. Visual cues are one promising intervention to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease find their way more easily (Davis& Weisbeck, 2016)”. The idea is to place certain key features, or memory cues, at specified key or check points throughout the memory residence to help aide the residents in their navigation. Research has concluded that “colorful, familiar (easily identified), and personally meaningful cues placed at key decision points and the residents’ rooms can help persons with Alzheimer’s find their way (Davis & Weisbeck, 2016)”. Another problem with Wayfinding is that the visual cues may not be “salient” enough or bolt or exuberant enough to be noticeable. Most elders with dementia also suffer from other age related illnesses like vision loss due to cataracts or yellowing of the lenses which bring about many “visual changes such as decreased contrast sensitivity, visual processing speed and acuity, along with an increased incidence of eye diseases such as glaucoma (Davis & Weisbeck, 2016)”. Not only are these changes worse for dementia patients but they are often accompanied by visual hallucinations that lead to full on delusions, which is why it’s harder for people with dementia to perceive their environments leading to tremendous disorientation. However, research is being done about a new type of Wayfinding that may be better equipped to handle the needs of people suffering with dementia called “Tactile Wayfinding”. The goal of this experiment was to outfit patients with a belt that vibrated in a specified direction to help the participant or wearer determine the proper route to take. Once the experiment was over, it was concluded that there’s still more to be achieved because the participants outfitted with belts ignored the signals and still wandered in opposite directions as to which way the belt indicated. “The participants displayed a few deficiencies in attending to the directional signals that led to way-finding errors in which the signal was ignored and the intended turn not made. The article concludes with recommendations that the system of signal delivery be modified in a way that captures and directs the wearer's focus more prominently to the vibrotactile stimulus (Carnahan & Grierson, 2009)”. The next in the process is to figure out another way to deliver stimuli to alert the wearer as to which way to go. Therefore, the best method of Wayfinding is still the use of salient cues. It is recommended that these cues, once again, be aided by color and either some type of symbol or meaning to the occupant. Studies show that “cues that are distinctive, bright, life-like color (i.e. bright flowers), large, and familiar (easy to identify and name) are helpful for place learning. In contrast, environments that lack distinctiveness are especially difficult for older adults to find their way (Davis & Weisbeck, 2016)”. Furthermore, it is also recommended that cues be linked to certain activities and the areas that they take place. For instance, near the dining room, food cues should be used whether it be a slice of pizza used as decoration or a hamburger and shake. Cues that standout are the best, not to mention olfactory or sensory cues are also great, olfactory relating to smell. The smell of cooked food is just as much a part of wayfinding as the visual cues are, and more research is being done to establish and learn more about other cues that could aid memory loss patients. Bright colored or different color doorways, and the use of memory boxes helps as well. Some memory care residents have even put portraits of their residents on the bedrooms to help aid them with Wayfinding, as well. The visual cues and other sensory cues are essential for memory care design. It is important that they be put into effect to help the overall well-being of the occupants and their transition throughout the different phases of the disease. Research has also linked the use of wayfinding visual cues as a way to increase and maintain brain activity, which can slow the onset of the disease. Therefore, the more cues used the better.
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