Environments for Aging - Winter 2017 - 29

EXPO &
CONFERENCE

PREVIEW

KEYNOTE

P.K. Beville

Founder and CEO,
Second Wind Dreams
Environments for Aging: You were
a clinician specializing in geriatrics before founding Second Wind
Dreams, a nonprofi t organization
dedicated to changing the perception of aging. What will your message be to EFA Expo attendees?
P.K. Beville: Most people view the environment in which seniors live in a passive
way. Of course we want it to be visually
appealing, but the environment-especially for those living with dementia-can
directly impact motivation, involvement,
and interaction. I'll talk about how we've
begun learning that the best environment
for seniors with dementia can be gleaned
from observing their behavior and walking in their shoes.
You've focused on rethinking what
type of training is necessary to
change caregivers' behavior toward

residents with dementia. What was
your goal?
The old training methods of lecture, reading, or role-playing weren't working to
increase caregivers' understanding of the
plight of dementia. My goal was to show
a different way of training that immersed
them in the world of dementia, thereby
increasing the likelihood that they would
better identify with dementia residents,

times more light to see compared to a
healthy younger eye. Seniors also lose
their peripheral vision and many keep a
downward gaze as they walk or use a
wheelchair. Therefore, if an environment
has things that are above or to the side
of the visual field, a senior may not know
they're there. Subdued lighting can make
an environment look confusing, making a
person feel immobilized. If drawers have

leading to better care.

no prominent knobs or closets match the
walls, a senior may not see them. Eventually, these situations can lead a person
with dementia to withdraw and become
more confused.

One outcome of your work was the
Virtual Dementia Tour, an eight-minute experience that exposes a person
to some of the physical and mental
challenges those with dementia face.
What surprises people the most when
they take the tour?
They realize that they've just behaved
exactly like a person with dementia and
immediately make the connection to
empathy and support for those with the
disease. When we take a moment to
see the world from their point of view, it
changes our thinking about the need for
an environment that supports them. When
we view other people's needs as a priority,
the result is empathy.
What elements within the built environment can affect residents negatively, especially those with dementia?
People with dementia have difficulty
with visual discrimination. In addition, the normal aging eye needs three

What are some design features that
can be incorporated into senior living
environments to support residents
with dementia or other memory care
needs?
Everything a resident needs should be
visible and out in the open, not stored
in drawers where they can forget them.
Doors and closets should be painted a
different color from the walls or, better
yet, the doors should be taken off the
closet. Bath and shower areas can look
scary, resulting in residents who refuse
baths. Making those areas clutter-free
and with acoustics that prevent sounds
from echoing can help residents feel
more comfortable.

Learn more at EFA Expo

To hear more from these keynote presenters, see Dr. Roger Landry speak
at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, and P.K. Beville at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb.
28, at the EFA Expo & Conference, Feb. 26-March 1 at the Mandalay Bay
Convention Center in Las Vegas. Visit EnvironmentsforAging.com for more
details.

Winter 2017 * EFAmagazine.com

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Environments for Aging - Winter 2017

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