Natural perceptual wayfinding for urban accessibility of the elderly with early-stage AD

Abstract

Population ageing and the increase in neurodegenerative diseases that lead to dementia, together with growing urbanisation, cause us to reflect on an important aspect of life in the city for elderly people: the ability to move around independently without getting lost and to find their way back home. By reviewing the existing literature on the theme of wayfinding and analysing some data on residual capacities in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, the concept of ‘natural perceptual wayfinding’ is introduced, aimed, on the one hand, at improving urban accessibility of people with dementia and, on the other, at reconsidering a topic of vital importance, even if normally neglected in the dwelling design.