A note on this article
The Environmental Design Special Interest Group (ED-SiG) is a subgroup of Dementia Alliance International (DAI), made up of people with dementia and professionals working together to promote inclusive, human-rights–based design.
The survey featured below is intended for researchers and educators rather than people living with dementia, though others may still find it of interest. Ultimately its aim is to improve environments so that people with dementia can live more independently and meaningfully.
Why dementia-inclusive design education matters
As the number of people living with dementia continues to rise worldwide, the environments in which we live, work, and receive care profoundly shape wellbeing. Supportive environments can enable independence and reduce distress; poorly designed ones can amplify disability and exclusion.
The World Alzheimer Report 2020 identified a critical gap: the need for stronger education and training in dementia-inclusive design. Too few professionals in architecture, planning, housing, or occupational therapy receive structured teaching on how to create environments that genuinely support people with cognitive change. Where learning does occur, it is often fragmented or dependent on individual champions rather than embedded within professional standards or curricula.
Without consistent education, opportunities are lost - not only to improve the daily lives of people with dementia and their families, but also to equip practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to apply evidence-based design principles in practice.
The role of DAI and the Environmental Design Special Interest Group (ED-SiG)
Dementia Alliance International was established to ensure that people living with dementia have a direct voice in research, policy, and practice. Within DAI, the Environmental Design Special Interest Group (ED-SiG) advocates for design that upholds dignity, autonomy, and inclusion.
Guided by the principles of the Dignity Manifesto, ED-SiG brings together people with lived experience of dementia alongside some of the world’s most respected researchers, educators, and practitioners in dementia-inclusive design. This unique mix of expertise enables the group to address both the everyday realities and the systemic challenges that shape the environments people encounter.
Developing the ADEPT study
The ADEPT study - Architecture for Dementia in Education, Practice, and Training - has been developed through close collaboration between members of DAI’s ED-SiG with Dr Martin Quirke from the University of Stirling acting as project lead.
From its inception, ADEPT has been co-designed with people living with dementia, educators, and professionals from architecture, housing, occupational therapy, planning, and other related fields. This collaborative process ensures that the study reflects real-world priorities and diverse perspectives.
ADEPT aims to provide the first global snapshot of how dementia-inclusive design is taught, understood, and applied across disciplines and countries. Among the key questions it explores:
How and where do professionals currently learn about dementia-inclusive design?
Which forms of education or professional development are most influential?
How do practitioners view the challenges of applying design principles -whether related to cost, aesthetics, or regulation?
What gaps remain in formal education and ongoing training?
By gathering this evidence, ADEPT seeks to strengthen the foundation for embedding dementia-inclusive design within the education and professional standards of architects, planners, occupational therapists, housing specialists, and educators worldwide.
Why participation matters
The impact of ADEPT will depend on the breadth and diversity of its contributors. Every professional voice adds value - whether from architectural practice, health and social care, housing management, education, or research.
By taking part, you will help generate evidence that can shape:
Education and curricula – ensuring dementia-inclusive design becomes a core competency rather than a specialist niche.
Policy and advocacy – providing the data DAI and others can use to push for systemic change.
Professional standards and continuing development – reinforcing the case for dementia-inclusive design to be recognised across disciplines.
Your contribution helps transform advocacy into action, supporting a shared goal: environments that respect dignity, independence, and inclusion for all.
How to take part
The ADEPT survey takes around 15–20 minutes to complete. All questions are optional, so participants can contribute even if time is limited.
Click here to take part in the ADEPT survey.
Please share this invitation through your professional networks. The more varied the responses - across regions, professions, and practice contexts - the more representative and useful the findings will be.
Looking ahead
ADEPT is one step in a broader movement to strengthen education on dementia-inclusive design. Its findings will be shared openly with participants and the wider community, informing future guidance, training, and advocacy.
Through collaborative efforts such as this, we aim to ensure that the principles of dignity and inclusion are not optional extras but integral to how environments are conceived, designed, and maintained.
Stay updated
If you’d like to receive a copy of the ADEPT study findings or be informed about future collaboration opportunities, you can register your interest here.
This sign-up is entirely separate from the survey, to ensure that survey responses remain anonymous.
Closing
We are grateful to everyone - people living with dementia, educators, researchers, and practitioners - who has contributed to shaping the ADEPT study so far.
Your participation will help ensure that dementia-inclusive design education becomes global, equitable, and sustainable. Together, we can turn insight into impact.
Take part in the ADEPT survey today and help advance this vital work.
🌟 About DAI
Dementia Alliance International (DAI) is a global advocacy and support organization led by and for people living with dementia. Our mission is to empower individuals with dementia to live with dignity, purpose, and support through peer-to-peer connections, education, and advocacy. Read more here.
🤝 Join Us
Are you living with dementia? Become a member today to access our peer support groups, webinars, and a global community of peers. Membership is free and open to people with a confirmed dementia diagnosis. Sign up here.
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