October 14, 2021

University of Stirling audits Lewis & Scott

University of Stirling audits Lewis & Scott
The University of Stirling has a distinct reputation in the field of dementia and ageing, and their international centre for knowledge exchange - the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) is recognised as a worldwide leader.

For clarity, dementia is the term used to describe a broad range of brain diseases, including conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

According to the DSDC, one person in every fourteen over the age of 65 year has dementia in the
UK, and this is projected to increase; one in three people born in the UK in 2018 are likely to develop dementia in their lifetime (source: Alzheimer’s Research UK, 2018).

Dementia is most commonly understood to be a condition which affects our memory, but it can also
impact sight, hearing and balance, challenges that are often associated with ageing more generally.

Importance of Environment
Central to the University’s work is a set of evidence-based environmental design principles that offer a non-pharmacological approach to improving the lives and wellbeing of people living with dementia. The international consensus is that good design should:

• Support the individual’s needs
• Maximise independence
• Enhance self-esteem and confidence
• Demonstrate care for staff
• Be orientating and understandable
• Reinforce personal identity
• Welcome relatives and the local community
• Allow control of stimuli

The design of the built environment can therefore have a profound impact on how a person with dementia perceives, experiences and engages with the places and spaces in which they live, socialise and work.

By adhering to these rigorous standards, we have created homes where people can live independently, while enjoying the benefits of award-winning architecture and landscaping. This is an ongoing process, and the insights we gain through collaborating with experts such as the University of Stirling will enable us to continually refine every aspect of our homes, both inside and out.

How did we do?
We commissioned the University to audit our unique house designs, community layouts and
landscaping strategy, based on the full planning application for Salt Meadows in Tollesbury. 
Their detailed report covered every aspect of the scheme, and can be downloaded in full here.

Site and Context
The location of Salt Meadows was met with approval, given its walkable proximity to the marina and
primary services, post office and convenience stores. The flatness of the site was also mentioned as being conducive to ease of movement.
We were also really pleased that the way the homes are clustered around communal gardens was picked up and linked to great wellbeing: “Housing has been planned as a pocket neighbourhood around a communal courtyard. This will give homeowners a sense of community, encouraging them to socialise with their neighbours, and reduce social isolation.”
External Areas
Linked to the pocket neighbourhood principle, the report noted that Salt Meadows provides “a variety of outdoor spaces to encourage socialisation, exercise and intergenerational activity.” It was
encouraged that we should formalise the spaces still further, thinking about creating more distinct zones – such as through the addition of raised beds and a garden shed, and by using planting to define areas in the central garden, to support orientation and memory.

The woodland walk, and more specifically its circular route which brings people back to the communal garden, also supports wayfinding as the report explains: “It is excellent that the forest path forms a loop back to the starting point as people with dementia often like to follow a set route and can become confused and frustrated by dead-ends. The close proximity of the forest walk also offers residents the perfect opportunity for a walk close to home without the use of a car and will be popular for dog owners.”
Our decision to self-deliver the facilities management was endorsed as a way to “provide residents with peace of mind over upkeep and finding reliable trades people.” This is important to us – not only do we recognise that residents will not necessarily want or be able to maintain the properties and gardens to the initial high standard, but the annual service fee also needs to be permanently low. We therefore specified the design, planting and materials throughout to ensure minimal maintenance in the long term, as well as a tranquil, natural aesthetic.
House Design (Elevations)
We were pleased that the University picked up on our choice of windows, which are large and low-silled, creating maximum opportunity for light and for people to see out when sitting down.
The contrast of windows and doors, and the subtle variation in colour of timber cladding was also commented upon positively to help those with sight impairment, and as another way to help people find their way home.
Plot Layouts
The aspect of the development that received the most detailed feedback were the layouts, relating to the properties and the overall scheme. Getting the architecture right, as well as the number of homes in a community (known as density), was the key to making our approach possible. First and foremost a Lewis & Scott neighbourhood has to be a pleasure to live in, which means balancing privacy and community, and ensuring the surroundings are beautiful.

These elements also have an important role to play in long-term health, as the report explains:

“A well designed home environment can reduce stress, and distressed behaviours in the person with dementia. This can also be linked to a reduction in care costs, hospital admission and anti- psychotic medication being prescribed. DSDC are pleased to see the effort to incorporate dementia-friendly design principles into the project”.
Car ports were singled out for a variety of benefits, not all of which we had anticipated, for example: “The ageing eye takes longer to adjust to the change in light levels between outdoors and indoors. During this period of adjustment there is an increase in the risk of trips and falls. The car ports will help to temper the change in light levels when moving from bright natural light to indoors.” Lighting at night will clearly be important, throughout the scheme, and is something we are reviewing to increase the feeling of security and to encourage people to spend time outside.

Another element that we were pleased met with approval was the decision to remove the long corridors typically associated with bungalows: “Corridor space has been minimised in house types, utilising an open-plan style which is more suitable to modern day living. This also increases the visual access to the garden spaces and in some cases the toilet. These are two key vantage points for people with dementia. The open plan layout also allows for different focal points within the room such as the television and kitchen cabinets to prompt meal preparation.”
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