AWWA Dementia Care Centre

The AWWA Dementia Care Centre is the latest project by the UN Award winning social care agency, Asian Women’s Welfare Association. The commissioned designer, D’Perception Ritz Pte Ltd, undertook rigorous studies to understand the special needs of dementia patients and implemented materials and design ideas based on the positive and negative components accordingly. On 18 January 2015, the centre was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and received high approval ratings from the Ang Mo Kio residents, the Ministry of Health, staff and potential hires. For the seniors, the incorporation of familiar old-school decorative elements, appropriate color scheme and assistive fixtures provide a sense of security and ease. For the staff, meaningfully partitioned spaces and a refreshing ambience improve productivity and staff morale. For the residents leaving their aged parents or grandparents, the accessibility and quality of care provide peace of mind. For the community, the changing exhibit along “memory lane” is a reminder of how far we have come. The Centre is a key example of how good design not only creates a calming environment suitable for rehabilitation and community living, but also impacts staff hiring outcomes and galvanises the community into integrating the aging population of the society.