Architecture

Dr. Julia Kirch - Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Architecture M.A.
Network Aging Research
Bergheimer Straße 20
D-69115 Heidelberg

Tel: +49 (0)6221 54 8134
kirch(at)nar.uni-heidelberg.de

Fellows: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gesine Marquardt, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uta Pottgiesser

Architecture for Dementia-sensitive Hospitals

The architecture of hospitals has so far not received sufficient attention regarding the specific needs of patients with cognitive limitations, considering that 40 per cent of patients over 65 that receive treatment in general hospitals show signs of cognitive impairment. It is therefore extremely relevant to investigate the needs and sensitivities of such people in hospital. Patients in hospitals are exposed to a great number of different influences and stimuli which are burdens, in particular, for patience with dementia, who easily feel stressed and insecure. These feelings can often trigger challenging behaviours. The objective of this research is to examine and evaluate the possibilities of the built environment as a supporting element, i.e. this dissertation project will examine the impact of architectural characteristics in hospital and how spatial design can add to feelings of orientation, security and comfort. The methodology of post occupancy evaluation (POE) will be applied to assess the effects of the built environment on users, in the framework of the special needs of people with dementia. Aspects of dementia-sensitive design in hospital settings will be identified and spatial planning recommendations will be made based on these findings which can then in future serve as guidelines for renovations and new constructions of hospital.

Publications

• Kirch, J., & Marquardt, G. (2021). Towards human-centred general hospitals: The potential of dementia-friendly design. Architectural Science Review, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2021.1933889
• Kirch, J. & Marquardt, G. (2019). Impact of Spatial Design on Patients with Dementia in Special Care Units of Acute Care Hospitals. In Beth, A., Wener, R., Yoon, B., Rae, R. A., & Morris, J. (Eds.),  Proceedings from EDRA 50: Sustainable urban environment (s. Brooklyn, NY: Environmental Design Research Association. https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/projects/edra-50-proceedings
• Kirch, J. & Marquardt, G. (2019). Spatial Concepts of Special Care Units for Patients with Dementia in Acute Care Hospitals. In Beth, A., Wener, R., Yoon, B., Rae, R. A., & Morris, J. (Eds.),  Proceedings from EDRA 50: Sustainable urban environment (s. Brooklyn, NY: Environmental Design Research Association. https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/projects/edra-50-proceedings
• Kirch, J., & Marquardt, G. (2019). Architecture of Special Care Units for Patients with Dementia in Acute Care Hospitals. Proceedings ARCH19: Building for Better Health. https://sites.google.com/view/arch19abstracts/session-c/c2/c24?authuser=0
• Kirch, J., Büter, K., & Marquardt, G. (2018). Raumkonzepte von Spezialstationen für die Versorgung von  Patienten mit Demenz in Akutkrankenhäusern. Abstracts des gemeinsamen Jahreskongresses der DGGG und DGG in Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, 51(S1), S86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-018-1435-3
• Kirch, J., Marquardt, G., & Bueter, K. (2018). Breaking Down Barriers: Promoting a New Look at Dementia-Friendly Design. In P. Langdon, J. Lazar, A. Heylighen, & H. Dong (Hrsg.), Breaking Down Barriers (S. 125–133). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75028-6_11

Lectures

• Kirch, J. (2019). Raumkonzepte von Spezialstationen: Unterstützung von Patienten mit Demenz durch räumliche Gestaltung [Vortrag, 12.11.2019]. Das Demenzsensible Krankenhaus – Fakten. Praxis. Perspektiven., Robert-Bosch-Stiftung, Berlin.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Demenzsensible Architektur im Krankenhaus: Räume und Prozesse für alle Nutzer gestalten. [Vortrag, 17.10.2019]. Fachtag des Landes-Netz-Werks Demenz: „Das demenzsensible Krankenhaus“, Landeszentrale für Gesundheitsförderung, Mainz.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Architektur als Therapie? Einfluss von Krankenhausarchitektur auf Menschen mit Demenz [Vortrag, 04.07.2019]. Tag der offenen Tür des Studiengangs Interprofessionelle Gesundheitsversorgung, Heidelberg.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Architecture of Special Care Units for Patients with Dementia in Acute Care Hospitals [Vortrag, 13.06.2019]. ARCH19: Building for Better Health, Trondheim, Norwegen.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Impact of Spatial Design on Patients with Dementia in Special Care Units of Acute Care Hospitals [Vortrag, 24.05.2019]. Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), New York, USA.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Demenzsensibilität als Inspiration für die Weiterentwicklung von Krankenhäusern [Vortrag, 07.05.2019]. Tagung Architektur für Menschen mit Demenz, Dresden.
• Kirch, J. (2019). Raumkonzepte von Spezialstationen: Unterstützung von Patienten mit Demenz durch räumliche Gestaltung [Vortrag, 21.03.2019]. Symposium HuBerTDA – die Zukunft für das Krankenhaus, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart.

Vita