ABSTRACT
Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is a structured approach to the assessment of the performance of buildings and their role as enablers of creating an environment in which dementia sufferers can live well. The role of POE as an effective tool for enhancing building performance and for ensuring the best match with users’ needs has been generally recognised. This chapter seeks to identify some of the main approaches to POE that exist and to consider their application and efficacy in the evaluation of facilities that are specifically designed for dementia sufferers. POE can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of staff training and the provision of specialised care and support for individuals with dementia. Soft landings is a process which considers the lifecycle of a project, committing time and resources into briefing, pre-handover and the long term operation of the facility.
