ABSTRACT
The built environment refers to the material world, yet the contribution architectural design might positively make to the lives of people with dementia is not at all clear. Despite the paucity of research, the basic position of all workers is that buildings in some way influence the behaviour of people who live within them, even though opinion remains largely intuitive. While buildings clearly matter, it is naïve to propose a deterministic view of the relationship between buildings and people who live in them. There is clear convergence between the various accounts that address the positive characteristics of caregiving, yet the poor quality of life for elderly people with dementia in permanent care has been demonstrated time and time again. The model of understanding is complete - an understanding that is far removed from the reductionist explanation provided by the standard paradigm.
