Environmental characteristics and staff ratings of newer and older special care units for dementia in British Columbia

Due to the greater availability of community resources as well as changes in
admission policies, seniors are entering care facilities at an older average age and with
higher levels of health needs than was the case twenty years ago. The number of
dementia cases has also increased dramatically as well as Special Care Units (SCUs) to
house persons with dementia. The purpose of this study was twofold. First it described
the physical and operational characteristics of a sample of SCUs for dementia currently in
operation in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia (n=29) and compared those
built prior to and after 1995. Second, this study determined the extent to which Directors
of Care and Head Nurses believed their SCU operationalized the nine therapeutic goals
identified in the Professional Environmental Assessment Protocol (PEAP). The PEAP is
a post occupancy evaluation tool that was developed specifically for use in SCUs for
persons with dementia. The therapeutic goals for the PEAP are: maximizing awareness
and orientation; maximizing safety and security; providing privacy; regulating
stimulation; providing good quality stimulation; supporting functional abilities;
providing opportunities for personal control; supporting the continuity of the self; and
facilitating social contact. The PEAP was also chosen for use in this study because its
dimensions approximate six of the seven guidelines for SCUs frequently recommended in
the literature. These include: maximizing awareness and orientation; maximizing safety
and security; providing privacy; regulating stimulation; providing opportunities for
personal control; and facilitating social contact.