The Influence of the Physical Environment on Residents With Dementia in Long-Term Care Settings: A Review of the Empirical Literature

Background and Objectives: The physical environment in long-term care facilities has an important role in the care of residents with dementia. This paper presents a literature review focusing on recent empirical research in this area and situates the research with therapeutic goals related to the physical environment. Research Design and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Ageline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Medline and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant articles. A narrative approach was used to review the literature. Results: A total of 103 full-text items were reviewed, including 94 empirical studies and 9 reviews. There is substantial evidence on the influence of unit size, spatial layout, homelike character, sensory stimulation, and environmental characteristics of social spaces on residents' behaviors and well-being in care facilities. However, research in this area is primarily cross-sectional and based on relatively small and homogenous samples. Discussion and Implications: Given the increasing body of empirical evidence, greater recognition is warranted for creating physical environments appropriate and responsive to residents' cognitive abilities and functioning. Future research needs to place greater emphasis on environmental intervention-based studies, diverse sample populations, inclusion of residents in different stages and with multiple types of dementia, and on longitudinal study design.