Making therapeutic kitchens in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities more like home is important for treating Alzheimer's patients, giving them a comfortable and safe place to sharpen their menal abilities, according to researchers at the University of Florida. eir mental abilities.

Institutional kitchen décor is the norm in nursing homes but simple additions such as side-by-side refrigerators and real houseplants can create a homey atmosphere that puts residents at ease, said John Marsden, assistant professor in the College of Design, Construction and Planning. Marsden's findings were published in the Activities Directors Quarterly for Alzheimer's and Other Dementia Patients.

"There's been a lot of talk and emphasis on domestic or therapeutic kitchens," said Marsden. "The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of physical features that typically comprise therapeutic kitchen design, and to explore how these features support activities programming and food-service systems in assisted-living and nursing-home facilities."

Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities often provide kitchen-based activities to aid social interaction and keep residents involved in meaningful tasks. However, the kitchens in these facilities may lack the physical features and familiarity necessary to provide therapeutic benefits.

"The more a person can be in a familiar place, the calmer they are and the better the quality of life they will have," said Lynda Everitt, director of the North Central Florida Alzheimer's office.

Researchers conducted site visits to four nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in Ohio, where they interviewed staff and created a checklist of physical features in the kitchens being used by residents. They developed a two-page questionnaire asking the types of activities and kitchen design features that should be incorporated to support popular activities. The survey was sent to 631 nursing homes and assisted-living centers nationwide.

A total of 116 responses were received which were used to develop a series of recommendations for making kitchens in these facilities more comfortable and reassuring, such as using standard-size appliances instead of large, bulky commercial equipment; growing real plants and flowers instead of using artificial ones; and incorporating wood cabinets and tables and other natural materials.

Researchers recommend keeping kitchens accessible by varying counter heights to accommodate shorter residents, those in wheelchairs and those who must be seated to take part in group activities.

Other sources: University of Florida