Improved accessibility for dementia patients

At the Dorothy Macham Home, we are developing insights for the best care of dementia patients.

Sunnybrook's veterans live in a world-class hospital where scientists are developing new insights into the causes of Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders and dementia. In our residence, veterans with physical and cognitive challenges benefit from innovative accessibility features, including visual cues for veterans with dementia who rely on these prompts to carry out day-to-day tasks.

We are building rooms where every carefully chosen detail will remind veterans with dementia that it is mealtime, making them more receptive to eating. Familiar, easy-to-navigate common areas will help prevent disorientation, and new gardens will nourish the soul.

The Dorothy Macham Home is a result of extensive consultation with national and international experts in the care of dementia patients. The one-storey, 10-bed residence provides veterans suffering from challenging behaviours due to dementia and lingering post-traumatic stress disorder an environment free of stressors that, given their conditions, can be terrifying.

We also plan to add a unit to allow for transition between the Dorothy Macham Home and the more open care of the veterans' residence. This will enable veterans to be as fully integrated into the Sunnybrook community as their conditions allow.