ABSTRACT
Being able to find and then use a toilet is essential for any citizen but is often impossible for older people with dementia.
Unnecessary dependence and distressed behaviour resulting from being unable to find and use the toilet have a major impact on hospitals and care settings, but discussion of this design feature is often limited by deeply held attitudes to this most private place.
This chapter will consider the requirements, most easily achieved in new buildings but substantially achievable in refurbishments. The application of existing knowledge about design enables us to design enabling toilets.
There is very little research on the impact of poor toilet design in hospitals and care settings. Using experiences of people with dementia from a research study, this chapter will also consider the consequences both physical and emotional, from a human rights perspective.
