How Museum-Grade Design Can Transform Dementia Care
If you have spent time in classrooms, clinics, or senior care, you know these environments demand a lot from people. They require navigating noise, decoding signs, and making choices under stress. Museums face similar challenges, but they have decades of experience translating complex ideas into engaging, beautiful, and humane experiences. This craft is what my collaborators and I aim to bring into dementia care.
As I have mentioned before, the foundation is human-centered design, which supports Person-Centered Care (PCC). In both exhibitions and memory care, attention can fluctuate. Fortunately, there are no penalties for pausing or repeating; everyone can take the time they need to arrive.
Providing suitable content, along with multisensory cues and gentle prompts, creates a consistent and manageable path: Arrive → Orient → Engage. Staff can recognize this process quickly, and participants respond instinctively according to their abilities.
I pay close attention to the initial engagement. Before any interaction occurs, social engagement and the environment communicate orientation and welcome. “You belong here” is not just a sign; it’s a feeling created through light, sound, posture, eye contact, and a clear first step, whether with a participant, a family member, or a staff member.
When using novelty, such as a subtle rumble underfoot while someone drives, I aim to create surprises, not startles. Familiar forms with slight twists can effectively spark attention. The goal is to invite, not overwhelm, allowing people to stay oriented in a way that enhances their state of mind.
Play with purpose can shift outcomes. Low-stakes, joyful exploration fosters agency and small victories. This approach is not gamification; it’s permission to try, notice, and try again.
Most experiences are designed for togetherness. Prompts encourage turn-taking and shared focus, enabling dyads (the person and care partner) to find a rhythm. Staff have remarked that even a few calm minutes together can make the rest of the day smoother.
I want to highlight the role of life enrichment staff. For instance, at the pilot site for the Experience Station project, the team is trained in art and drama therapies. They are not just facilitators; they are co-authors in experiences. They treat each participant as the protagonist, demonstrating, mirroring, and using light role-play in both interaction and body language. They are highly attuned to individual states and orientations, working with residents to choose a path, set a pace, and decide what matters in the moment. Watching them, I've learned dozens of subtle moves that no interface can replicate: a hand resting gently on the back of a chair to provide balance, a shared breath before making a choice, and how a simple “shall we” can empower agency without pressure.
In this context, every form of agency is dignifying.
Life enrichment is a vital part of an effective care ecosystem, with Person-Centered Care serving as its governing principle. In clinical practice, PCC involves using personal insights about individuals with dementia, engaging them in meaningful activities, prioritizing their well-being, and fostering stronger relationships between healthcare providers and patients (Kim & Park, 2017).
The Experience Station pilot is grounded in reality. Local voices and everyday objects help to root the content in place, increasing the likelihood of recognition and connection. The result is a practical blend of exhibition craft and clinical common sense—hardware that seamlessly integrates into the care environment.
If you are a clinician, caregiver, museum professional, or researcher interested in dementia-friendly practices, I would love to collaborate. I am currently seeking host sites for short residency or pilot projects. You can provide the venue and on-the-ground partners, along with travel and lodging support. I will bring the Experience Station program, along with my remote team, training, and an evaluation plan. Together, we can iterate on-site until it becomes reliable and impactful.
Reference
Kim, S.K., & Park, M. (2017). Effectiveness of person-centered care on people with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 12, 381-397. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S117637. Available from: PMC5322939.
To cite this post:
Mortati, M. October 15, 2025. How Museum-grade Design Can Transform Dementia Care. Design As Care blog, Mortati Design. https://www.mortatidesign.com/design-as-care
Image: Baltimore Museum of Art