Navigating Vancouver's streets on foot can feel somewhat perilous. Cars, cyclists and e-scooters come at you from all directions. Construction shuts off walkways leading to diversions. Sidewalks are often uneven and in need of repair.
For people living with dementia, overcoming such challenges can be even more confronting, which is why a new Simon Fraser University study has sought to find out more about their experiences and what can be done to improve urban design.
"It's important to highlight the dual stigma that people in the dementia community often experience - the stigma of aging and the discrimination that comes with living with dementia," says Kishore Seetharaman, lead author of the research, published in Cities, The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning.
"When it comes to urban design, their accessibility needs are often overlooked, not because of overt discrimination, but rather there's just a lack of knowledge and awareness about their needs.
"We want to reframe the often paternalistic view of people living with dementia and focus on their lived experiences so we can make spaces more inclusive."
Researchers spent time interviewing and walking with 14 people living with dementia in different areas of Metro Vancouver. They then presented their findings to municipal planners to get their perspectives on the issues raised.
Among the key findings from the research:
- Sidewalks that are in a poor state cause fear of falling and are difficult to navigate;
- Cyclists and scooters on walkways lead to anxiety;
- Places to rest and public washrooms are important;
- Street crossings - cars turning while people are crossing, short crossing times, high curbs - can be stressful;
- Familiar landmarks, like artwork, are important for orientation.
Study participants cited signage and environmental landmarks as being helpful for orientation, whether they are intentional design features, or not, for example, public art installations or graffiti.
"There's a strong relationship between the outdoor built environment and accessibility needs for different groups of people," says Seetharaman, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Gerontology.
"People living with dementia have unique accessibility requirements in that there is far more emphasis on environmental support for orientation and way finding.
"Legibility - how the environment imparts spatial information - is very important. As is distinctiveness, how urban areas differ from each other through their characteristics."
Seetharaman says city planners were receptive to feedback and open to learning more, while acknowledging shortcomings in urban planning and design.
For example, they acknowledged that the fragmented nature of new private developments resulted in inconsistencies in infrastructure, while financial constraints were also a factor in the maintenance of public washrooms.
"There is a willingness and interest from municipal planners to integrate lived experiences into design guidelines to inform planning," says Seetharaman.
"We want to see greater engagement with people living with dementia to increase awareness of the important role that the built environment has in everyday life. A more human-centred approach to urban design is really the key takeaway from this study."
SFU Expert Available
KISHORE SEETHARAMAN, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Gerontology
