The importance of personal possessions in the construction of institutional ambiance for elderly with Alzheimer's disease

Background The process of institutionalization could lead to the loss of autonomy, individuality and familiarity for the elderly. (MACHADO, 2018). The possibility of decreasing functional capacity in the elderly requires new projects and constant adaptations in the built environment, furniture and objects. (PAIVA, SOBRAL & VILLAROUCO, 2016) Such as customized environments become more important as some areas of the brain stop working as they should, like in residents with Alzheimer's, who might feel lost and without a sense of self. (ZEISEL, 2006) Continuous environmental mementos contribute to the sense of belonging to a place, in more active processes of reminiscence and reimmersion. Each artifact might serve as a trigger to remembrance, contributing to the continuous sense of identity. (ROWLES, OSWALD & HUNTER, 2003). Method A literature search was conducted in Ageline, Researchgate, Alzheimer's Association, SciVerse ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases. A total of 30 items were reviewed, in the english or portuguese language, from 1983 to 2019. Result It urges the acknowledgment of personal objects for promotion and improvement of the relationship between the elderly diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the environment, although it lacks literature review focusing on recent empirical research in this area. Conclusion Given that personal possessions could reinforce identity aspects, life achievements, attachments and important places, understanding this relationship could influence in improving social relations, higher environment‐related autonomy, and the maintenance of a more welcoming ambience. References: Machado, C. C. Avaliação dos Usuários Institucionalizados e não institucionalizados sobre Instituições de longa Permanência para Idosos na Cidade de Pelotas. Dissertação (Mestrado), Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 2018. Paiva, M. M.; Sobral, R. F. A.; Villarouco, V. Avaliação estética em ambientes residenciais de idosos, p. 293‐303. In: Anais do VI Encontro Nacional de Ergonomia do Ambiente Construído & VII Seminário Brasileiro de Acessibilidade Integral. São Paulo: Blucher, 2016. Rowles, G. D.; Oswald, Frank; Hunter, Elizabeth. Interior living environments in old age. Aging In Context: Sociophysical Environments: Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Nova Iorque, v. 23, p.167‐194, jan. 2003. Zeisel, John. Inquiry by design: environment/behavior/neuroscience in architecture, interiors, landscape, and pla