The opening of a new Special Care Unit provided the opportunity to study the effect of reduced social density (fewer residents) and spatial density (more area per person) on the behaviour of residents with dementia. Two groups (N = 64) were observed at three periods spaced six months apart. As hypothesized, there was a greater improvement in Disruptive and Nondisruptive behaviour in the experimental group (move from high to low density) compared to the comparison group (constant high density). Findings suggest that unit density is an important determinant of behaviour in elderly residents with dementia.
