Project for Alzheimer's Disease Victims
Behavioral observation programs leading to a design criteria for gardens for Alzheimer's disease victims occupied my research efforts for two years while at the University of Washington. The application of the criteria to a built project came with a gran
t from the Seattle Housing Authority. Nancy Quency and I designed a garden of the
Seattle Day Center for Older Adults. The image below shows a suspended gardening
tray and a covered seating area. I designed the benches to serve the
needs of the frail elderly person.
The Alzheimer's Residence in Gig Harbor, Washington presented a new opportunity. I
was able to influence the location, access, parking, building, and gardens on this
project. Architect David Fey and I established the sense of a residential lodge on
the wooded site. Four gardens were designed for use of the residents, staff and visitors. The image below shows the building entrance immediately after construction.
In 1994 I traveled in several western states conducting post occupancy evaluations
of
long term and day care facilities dedicated to Alzheimer's disease victims. The purpose was to determine the kinds of gardens provided and their use. There were few care
facilities with exterior spaces for the clients. The gardens that did exist ranged widely in quality and function. The two images below illustrate the difference at two long term care facilities. All of the gardens visited were measured and photograph
ically documented. An interview and survey was conducted with each facility director. The work corroborated much of the experience gained in earlier research I had been involved in. However, there are opportunities for additional publication based on t
he 1994 data.
Good Sammaritan Respite Center, Puallyup, Washington.
The folowing images are from the set of working drawing for the most
recent garden I designed for Alzheimer's disease victims.
Site plan for the respite center
Planting plan for the courtyard.
Handrail detail.
Suspended planter detail.
Detail of a section of the aviary.
