The importance of dementia-friendly environments in care homes
There are many things to consider when finding the right home for someone living with dementia.
It needs to be the right choice for both the individual and their close family and friends. Things such as one-to-one support, specialist requirements and staffing should be taken into consideration, as well as the overall environment in which the person will be living.
Many specialist buildings, like care homes, are now being designed with dementia in mind, but even spaces that are not purpose built can be adapted to better the lives of those living with dementia. Considerations can include anything from new technologies and innovations to simple tweaks like rearranging furniture or adjusting colours and lighting.
There are many symptoms of dementia that can make completing everyday tasks confusing or frightening for those living with it. Designing a space that is dementia-friendly helps those living with dementia to maintain their independence for as long as possible, reduces stress and anxiety and significantly improves day-to-day mental wellbeing.
Here, Tracey Carter, consultant nurse for dementia care at Exemplar Health Care, advises how environments can be designed and adapted to improve the lives of people with dementia, and why this is important to consider when finding the right care home for someone living with dementia.
How interior design impacts people living with dementia
The most common perception of dementia is that it is a condition that affects just the memory, however there are a range of other symptoms that can cause distress and difficulty including; impairment to sight and hearing, visuo-spatial impairment, difficulty in interpreting and expressing communication, disorientation, visual mis-interpretation and hallucination.
The design and lay-out of both a living environment and an outdoor space can have a significant impact on either enhancing or impeding a person’s ability to understand, explore and enjoy their environment.
In order to help those living with dementia to negotiate new or strange environments, there are some basic principles that can be considered. These principles include supporting each individual’s needs; maximising independence; enhancing self-esteem and confidence; facilitating orientation and reinforcing personal identity.
Reduce risks
People living with dementia need an internal and external environment that is safe and easy to move around, so they can maintain their independence for as long as possible. Potential risks such as steps or trip hazards should be removed and any obvious safety features (such as locked doors or fences) should be as unobtrusive as possible.
It is important to ensure that all living areas are accessible, stand out within the environment, and that assistance, like handrails, are easily identified, for example, by having them in a bolder contrasting colour. In terms of flooring, carpets should be plain and continuous, with no obvious breaks or change in colour or type.
Within bathrooms, sinks, baths, showers and toilets should be easily identified and taps and flushing mechanisms should be easily identifiable, obvious and easy to use. The use of white toilet seats on white porcelain should be avoided, as this may not stand out, therefore increasing the risk of falls, or anxiety around using the toilet.
Signage and orientation
Where possible, there should be appropriate and understandable orientation provided to indicate the directions and locations of certain areas within a space, using a bold, stand out, coloured background, clear bold type face and easily identified pictures. Similarly, clocks should have a large face and be in a contrasting colour to the surrounding walls and you should avoid abstract decorative items, as well as the use of large photographic murals or busy and overwhelming wallpaper.
Consider lighting
People living with dementia require a degree of brightness that compensates for their loss of visual acuity and their tendency to misperceive what is not clearly seen.
When designing for a dementia-friendly space, the intensity of the main space should be three times the normal levels as this is where people are most likely to spend time and carry out tasks. The best possible lighting should always avoid the risk of glare and shadows, as this could cause visual disturbance or hallucination, particularly in certain types of dementia (such as Lewy Body Dementia).
Dementia can also make it harder to keep track of time, so it is advised to allow as much natural light into a space as possible.
The size and layout of a space
The size and scale of an environment can affect the mood and behaviour of those living with dementia, leading to them feeling overwhelmed and intimidated. The design should therefore consider the size of a building, the size of each space within the building and the number of people within each space.
Each space should have clear and well-defined pathways (inside and out) that are obstacle free and avoid intersections or decision points. Provide natural destination points such as an inside seating area, garden bench or kitchen table to encourage people to rest and interact with the environment or others. Ensure garden areas have a choice of seating and activity areas that can accommodate both alone time and group activities.
Colours and patterns
When deciding on a care home, assess the colours and patterns used in the décor, as this can often be confusing or disorientating for someone living with dementia. For example, bold, stand out primary colours can make rooms feel closed-in and confined whereas pastel shades are much easier on the eye and make them feel more at ease. Similarly, doors should also be painted in a more standout, contrasting colour, with frames around them painted white so to further standout.
It is advised that any assistance, like handrails, should be painted in a bold primary colour that contrasts with the wall, so they stand out prominently, as this encourages independence as well as reduces the risk of falls.
About Exemplar Health Care
Exemplar Health Care has a number of specialist nursing homes that support people living with complex dementia. For more information, visit: https://www.exemplarhc.com/
