Centre for Excellence at Knowl Park House

Dementia-friendly design

The Centre for Excellence has also been designed in collaboration with the University of Stirling's Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) who have established a set of dementia standards which we adhere to aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with dementia. The DSDC have a highly regarded international reputation, backed by academic research for promoting best practice in designing environments for people living with dementia.

Our facilities

We have private consultation rooms, a larger multi-function activity/training room and a bungalow with a small garden.

The bungalow

The bungalow is a mock-up of a Dementia-Friendly home setting and showcases good Dementia design in a safe and secure environment. It has been designed in a way to enable people with dementia to navigate more independently through their daily lives.

The bungalow not only helps people learn about good design but also what assistive and information technologies and equipment is available to them. The bungalow houses a host of assistive technologies and devices as well as a range of Movement and Handling equipment. This equipment can vary from aids that help open a tin can or a bottle in the kitchen; through to aids that help service users get their socks on; pressure mats that can alert carers when someone has got up from their chair or bed or mobile hoists that can help get people in and out of bed easily and safely.

The bungalow also showcases various smart devices connected to a smart home hub that has the potential to control functions around the home, things such as powered curtains and lighting. Having this equipment on site affords individuals the opportunity to see some of this in action as well as get an idea for size and weight. These features, combined with expert guidance from professionals will help support people in a caring role and help individuals to remain in their homes for longer.

Further information