The appropriateness of adapting the Australian Environmental Assessment Tool-High Care (EAT-HC) for persons with dementia in Singapore

Objectives:

This study investigated the level of acceptance in Singapore of the eight principles of design underpinning the Environmental Assessment Tool–High Care (EAT-HC), which is commonly used in Australia to evaluate environments for the care of people living with dementia. A secondary goal was to identify topics particularly relevant to the Singaporean context, which are not included in the Australian EAT-HC.

Background:

This study was undertaken in preparation for the development of a Singaporean version of the Australian EAT-HC.

Methods:

Discussions from 23 focus groups involving 150 family caregivers, aged care staff, administrators, and architects were recorded and thematically analyzed to identify the characteristics of the principles underpinning the EAT-HC that are unlikely to be relevant in a Singaporean version and to identify additional topics required to tailor it to reflect the Singaporean culture. The thematic analysis was supplemented with quantitative data obtained through the use of simple Likert-type scales measuring the appropriateness of each principle in the Singaporean context.

Results:

The principles of design that underpin the EAT-HC were highly accepted by participants and provided a framework for a systematic exploration of Singaporean residential care for people with dementia. Some topics of particular relevance to Singapore were identified. These can be subsumed by the principles without the need for the principles to be changed.

Conclusion:

The results support the use of the design principles underpinning the EAT-HC as the foundation of a tool for the evaluation of Singaporean dementia facilities.