A good sound environment - quality living for people with memory loss and dementia

In the MonIA project the SOTERA research group of Aalto University's Department of Architecture, is part of a group looking for new solutions in housing for people living with cognitive decline and mild dementia  

Ecophon actively collaborates in research for living, healing and working environments, and as the sound environment was targeted amongst other factors, Ecophon Finland became interested in the project as soon as they heard about it.

“We have been investigating the living environments of people with memory disorders before, and especially their acoustic solutions. The sound environment significantly affects people's wellbeing In the MonIA project, this aspect comes to the fore as an important factor along with other solutions that support the lives of people with memory problems”, states Jyrki Kilpikari, Concept Developer of Healthcare facilities at Ecophon.

• How can design work address the effects on hearing caused by cognitive decline and ageing?
• What is the ideal acoustic environment for memory-friendly and age-friendly housing?
• How can acoustic design promote wellbeing and coping in everyday life in memory-friendly and age-friendly housing?

The background for the project is public health and economic challenges. In 2018 there were 96,000 people living with dementia in Finland; in its 2019 report, Alzheimer Europe estimated that this  number would almost double in the next thirty years to 172,000 by 2050. Similar figures are seen in many other countries.

The project is led by Aalto University professor Laura Arpiainen. Her specialty is in architecture that supports health and wellbeing. Senior Scientist Ira Verma has been involved in projects related to serviced housing and she also acts as the thesis advisor of Viivi Salminen, who did her master’s thesis in the MonIA project.

The goal is to provide communal, diverse, inclusive and enabling housing solutions that support residents. 

There is a clear need for functional and resident-oriented space planning.

According to Verma new housing solutions are needed because in the current facilities living with a memory disorder can be challenging.

“Many existing assisted living units have large, reverberant, and noisy dining and common areas. These conditions can cause fear or anxiety. The facilities should be designed so that they can be divided into smaller areas depending on the activity. The possibility to retreat to one's own space from time to time reduces the restlessness of the residents.”

“In many cases, the housing units of the elderly are very minimalistic in their interior design: carpets, soft sofas, pillows, and decorative items have been removed either for safety or cleanliness reasons. However, these influence the coziness of the premises and the sound environment”, Verma points out.

Building materials, such as sound-absorbing ceilings and wall panels, as well as interior design, can also influence the sound environment.

Help to plan memory-friendly sound environments

The main goal of architect Viivi Salminen’s "Acoustic design in memory-friendly living" master thesis was to use existing data to develop guidelines on sound environments that supports the living and wellbeing of people with memory loss and early stage dementia. The aim is also to bring a more human-oriented perspective to acoustic design. To consider the role of the living environment as part of treatment, and to identify special features and needs in order to develop a memory-friendly environment. In this work, a memory-and age-friendly living environment means a barrier-free, easy-to-use, and understandable environment.

Salminen states “The settings and guidelines governing the design of sound environments have not considered people with memory disorders. And on the other hand, design guides for environments for people with these conditions rarely deal with the acoustics of spaces. The guide provides compiled information on the design of the sound environment for memory disorders, as well as highlights the importance of sound design as part of memory-friendly environments. In addition, it provides a good base for practical implementation, through which even more effective recommendations and buildings can be modified”

The sound environment plays a significant role in promoting wellbeing

According to Salminen, the quality of the sound environment is determined by traditional acoustic measurements. But the design based on them does not, however, guarantee a comfortable sound environment: especially for a person with memory problems.

“Less attention has been paid to the fact that a good sound environment consists of more than sound attenuation. It is also related to how the sound environment is ultimately experienced. In my opinion, a good sound environment for memory disorder is barrier-free, familiar, sensory-friendly, and considerate of the space's functions and its users.”

When the sound environment is considered in the architectural planning from the beginning of the project, the end result will be a more versatile and balanced room experience.

Salminen sums up by saying “The sensory and sound environment has a huge impact on the wellbeing and everyday life of a person with memory loss. The sound environment plays a particularly important role in supporting social situations, as memory disorders often present challenges in understanding and maintaining conversations. Studies have also found that the good design of the sound environment affects the quality of life of memory disorders. It improves the quality of sleep and reduces restlessness, anxiety, and behavioral symptoms. It can lower the use of psychotropic drugs and finally also reduce the stress levels for both residents and staff”. 

Top picture: JD Mason, Unsplash

The purpose of the MonIA project led by Aalto University's Social and Health Construction Research Group (SOTERA) is to research and design new flexible housing solutions between living at home and enhanced service housing. The goal is to support community-based, diverse and inclusive solutions and to reduce the social isolation of elderly people with mild dementia. In addition to Aalto University, the Ministry of the Environment is involved in the project; Housing Finance and Development Center ARA; the cities of Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Pori, Porvoo and Kirkkonummi; HEKA Oy; Yrjö and Hanna Kodit and Saint-Gobain Finland Oy / Ecophon.