Home Through Their Eyes: A Qualitative Exploration of the Meaning of Home for Persons With Dementia and Impact of Physical Environment During Meaning-Making

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to examine the meaning of home for persons with dementia and the role of the physical environment during their meaning-making process. In response to a growing number of persons with dementia, there has been a strong advocacy for prioritizing the development of dementia-friendly environments within design practice and research agendas, for which “home” has become one of the important loci. However, of the limited studies on the meaning of home from the perspective of those individuals who continue to live in their own homes after developing dementia, even fewer addressed this issue within the Chinese context. Methods Five dyads, persons with dementia and their family caregivers, participated in the qualitative phenomenology study. Ten home visits–2 visits per dyad–were conducted, during which interview data, photographs, and field notes were collected. Phenomenological analysis was applied within and across the data sets. Results Three key themes emerged—“Three Dimensions of Home” revealed that “home” goes beyond physical residence and immediate family connections, including meaningful objects and places, enduring relationships, self-identity, and lived experiences.; “The Impact of Physical Environment” and “The Impact of Cognitive Impairment” showed the complex interactions between the environment, cognitive impairment, and meaning-making. Discussion An exploration of the essence of meaning of home within the Chinese context, in person–environment relationships with dementia progression, and implications for future research and practice on dementia-related environments and care were further discussed. This study contributes insights into enhancing the well-being of persons with dementia and benefiting their caregivers.