Continuity Within Contraction

Abstract

This thesis proposes the design of a dementia care environment that addresses the increasing demand for dementia-specific care in Canada. Situated in Haliburton County, Ontario, where population increases and limited access to care are straining existing systems, there is a need for care environments that go beyond institutional models and respond to the lived experience of residents. Grounded in the lived experience of dementia, this thesis explores how architecture can adapt to the changing needs of people with dementia, where sensorial understandings of space can inform an environment that anchors memories in place while accommodating the progression of the condition. Central to this thesis is supporting the Dimensions of Self, where belonging, familiarity, personhood, and autonomy are maintained through environments that respond to sensory needs. By positioning nature as an anchor, the design aims to maintain continuity in identity even as the perceived world becomes smaller.