Designing homes for dementia patients

Dementia is the second-leading cause of death in Australia – with predictions there’ll be more than one million people living with dementia by 2058. The Aged Care Royal Commission – focusing this month on dementia – has been looking at issues such as the over-use of physical restraints. But one witness has echoed calls for an end to the widespread “locking up” of dementia patients within special units. Alternatives, however, are emerging.

An elderly person holding a walking stick Source: AAP