Humanity in Medicine

Healing Spaces: How Compassionate Architecture Supports Dementia Care

By Tony Chavez, YouthCare Connect 7/26/2026

Forgetting where you placed your keys is a common annoyance. But forgetting how to navigate the neighborhood you’ve lived in for over forty years is a symptom of something much deeper. Unfortunately, however, this is the harsh reality for the millions of people in the world living with dementia on a daily basis, and the countless individuals who will experience further memory loss in the future. Because despite the billions of dollars invested into Alzheimer’s and dementia research yearly, much of the underlying mystery behind this phenomena remains unknown and locked away. The deep complexity of Alzheimer’s means that much of its underlying biology remains a mystery, and as a result, there exists no definitive cure. But that’s not to say that all hope is lost; as Brooke Silveria of Alzheimer’s San Diego puts it, “We can’t change what is happening in the brain that makes the home environment feel uncomfortable, but we can change the home environment itself” (Silveria, 2020).

The reality is, Alzheimer’s disease inevitably touches every facet of a person’s life — from complex tasks like following a recipe, to the seemingly simple goals of getting dressed in the morning. But among the most impactful disruptions to daily routine is the effect that dementia has on navigating one’s own home. Even purely cosmetic choices such as wall colors, furniture placement, and dishware have the potential to completely alter the perception of a person living with dementia (“The Apartment-A Guide to Creating a Dementia-Friendly Home”). And unfortunately, more often than not, architects and city planners fail to consider these ramifications when creating and designing public spaces.

For example, medical professionals often look for something called “intuitive wayfinding” when first considering whether or not a space can be classified as dementia-friendly. Because the truth is that the majority of spaces aren’t created with easy walkways in mind. For instance, the confusing, maze-like floor plans of shopping malls, or massive, monotonous parking lots in residential districts. Dementia experts argue that building and city layouts must be designed with easy navigation in mind. This might materialize through initiatives such as circular paths to accommodate wandering without dead ends, or ensuring that lines of sight are kept clear so that residents can see where they are going (van Buuren and Mohammadi). When it comes to architecture and public design, even the seemingly small choices massively affect their inhabitants.

Another way that city planners and architects implement dementia-inclusive design is through the use of contrasting colors. Because the aging eye often struggles to distinguish between similar tones, designers can use high-contrast colors to make obstacles and furniture more visible (“How to Design a Dementia-Friendly Community”). Imagine a dark chair placed against a light wall, or community members painting a colourful mural on a traffic barrier. Practicing high-contrast colors along with “sensory management” — the act of keeping environments free of visual and auditory clutter — allow individuals with conditions like Alzheimer’s to maintain safety, without restricting their quality of life.

The future of dementia care lies in these principles, often referred to as healing architecture, which uses these techniques to promote spaces that support better freedom and a sense of belonging. Pioneering projects like Hogeweyk in the Netherlands or the Alzheimer’s Village in Dax, France use these principles while mimicking real-life towns with grocery stores, parks, and restaurants, promoting greater freedoms for those with Alzheimer and other dementias. But whether it’s designing entire cities or simply making small home modifications, creating environments that feel less clinical and more supportive is imperative when navigating the topic of dementia in design. Because whether it’s small or large, any kind of change at all can make a massive difference. Homes, neighborhoods, and entire cities are meant to be built for everyone, and it’s time for public spaces to finally reflect that.