The function of the architectural settings in therapeutic interventions for persons with dementia has been quite ignored and restricted in tradition.However,study of reciprocal relationships between people and their residential environment over the past several decades demonstrates that the living environment not only is a background variable but also may influence significantly on the behavior and quality of life of both individual and groups.This paper summarizes a serious of characteristics of people with dementia through reviewing the preceding studies.These characteristics can be described with the terms which are deficiency of personhood,dualism,"social death" and more characteristics of persons with Alzheimer,such as memory loss,aphasia,agnosia,apraxia and personality change.Moreover,this paper lists several therapeutic goals for people with dementia to found a reciprocal relationship between their characteristics and physical environments,and furthermore discusses several guidelines for design on the space organization perspective as follows.Firstly,the environments of dementia care units should contribute to maximize awareness and orientation with respect to time and space,retain links with healthy and familiar,and encourage increased social contact,so that spatial clusters and maximizing the mix of homelike activities are two main design concepts for space organization of dementia care units.Secondly,as the therapeutic goals of space organization are moderating simulation and challenge provided by wandering activity,maximizing orientation to space and time,and ensuring safety and security,wandering paths should be continuity,legible and understandable,and providing alcoves.Thirdly,therapeutic goals of environment design are proposed for people with dementia,that are regulating stimulation and challenge,providing autonomy and control,maintaining awareness and orientation,maintaining ties to healthy and familiar,and supporting functional ability through meaningful activity.Multiple design concepts can be concluded.Fourthly,various types of space should be provided to satisfy different needs of people with dementia,which are spaces for solitude,protected spaces,public spaces,and in-between spaces.Finally,providing multiple opportunities and spaces for children participation,plants cultivation,and pets grooming may be regarded as a design concept for therapeutic environments for people with dementia.