A redesigned, dementia-friendly shower room, now in use on the Specialized Dementia Unit at the University Health Network's (UHN) Toronto Rehab University Centre, was developed in collaboration with OCAD University's Design for Health graduate program.
The project progressed from a faculty-guided graduate design studio to collaborative research, led by UHN's KITE Research Institute, to a built space designed to support a calmer, more dignified bathing experience for people living with dementia.
The shower space in the Specialized Dementia Unit at UHN's Toronto Rehab University Centre was redesigned to create a warmer, more calming environment. Photo courtesy of UHN.
THE DESIGN STUDIO: WHERE IT STARTED
The journey started with OCAD University's Design for Health Spatial Studio, an architectural design course that partners with health-care organizations to offer health and design students learning in real care settings, where they can tackle tangible spatial challenges.
Now led by Associate Professor and Chair of Environmental Design Maya Mahgoub-Desai, the studio was originally co-developed by Desai and Associate Professor Bruce Hinds, with research methods input from Dr. Kate Sellen.
