The best dementia care home decorating ideas are designed to create safe, soothing and enriching spaces for those living with dementia. Helping to make residents feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible, they include a range of sensory and practical design ideas. From using tactile wallpapers to incorporating memory aids to reducing trip hazards, they offer all sorts of ways to create an optimised environment and a welcoming home from home.
If you are looking for some ways to improve or refresh rooms and spaces, here are some of our dementia care home decorating ideas.
If you are caring for someone living with dementia, then creating spaces that provide sensory stimulation can be invaluable. Adding points of interest and encouraging environmental engagement, tactile walls and interactive wall paintings are great dementia care home decorating ideas. When choosing what to go for, consider all types of senses that people use and the types of objects that may lead to an autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). This can include everything from walls covered with interesting and varied textures that feel soft or pleasing to the touch or that create a satisfying sound, or artwork that encourages thought and interaction. Not only making spaces more enjoyable to be in all round, but these sorts of care home decorations can really appeal to those living with dementia on an instinctive and subconscious level for enhanced happiness and comfort.
When considering the best dementia care home decorating ideas, why not consider creating different areas for comfort? Providing unique spaces with designated themes and decorations, these can create a more immersive and authentic environment for those living with dementia and offer plenty of points of interest. Depending on how much space there is and the layout of your care home, you can opt for designated areas such as a café space, “bar” area, and shops where residents can enjoy their favourite activities and relive familiar routines. Outside, you can also create designated areas such as outdoor games areas or bus stops so that residents can enjoy different activities and savour time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air too. By creating designated areas for comfort, this also creates more of a sense of community, purpose and familiarity – a precious support for those facing challenging moments in their lives.
Using decorations that aren’t overwhelming are some of the best and most simple dementia care home decorating ideas. To create the most comfortable space that is both functional and inspiring, use bold, colourful decorations, and consider creating different areas with era-themed artwork and talking points to act as memory aids and to evoke familiarity and positive feelings. Whilst being careful not to be too overwhelming, the use of bold colours can help elderly residents and those with advanced dementia to distinguish areas more clearly. This is because ageing in particular can cause the eye’s lenses to thicken, making it harder to perceive environmental contrasts and causing colours to seem duller. Consider avoiding too neutral or too similar tones and use bold colours for stronger contrasts, for example, a navy sofa against a bright, white wall. It’s important to opt for solid colours, as opposed to patterns, as busy patterns can often be disorientating for those living with dementia.
When preparing spaces for those living with dementia, it’s great to include a variety of textures and talking points for interest and activity. However, it’s also really important not to overcrowd rooms and fill spaces with too much large furniture or clutter. This is because too many objects can be overpowering, and also act as serious trip hazards. Imposing on space and extending into walkways, too much furniture or objects can make it hard for those living with dementia to move around, especially those who depend on walkers or wheelchairs. Similarly, throws and rugs on the floor often present unnecessary challenges and are easy to trip over. For better traction, think about using carpets instead of smooth hardwoods or slippery tiles and avoid rugs that are easy to ruffle or catch underfoot.
According to the NHS, most people living with dementia, as well as older people in general, benefit from brighter lighting conditions than on average. This helps with diminished eyesight, avoids potential confusion, and reduces the risk of falling over. For the most effective care home decorating ideas, a person-centred approach should focus on the use of bright, flexible and even lighting to accommodate individual requirements. As dementia advances, it’s also possible that those living with the symptoms may find shadowy areas in rooms uncomfortable or even ominous and brighter lighting can help residents to feel safer and more comfortable. When considering dementia care home decorating ideas, it’s also important to maximise natural lighting too, as light from the sun can help to maintain circadian rhythms and also boost serotonin levels.
At Wisteria House in Plymstock, we provide a safe and comfortable home for those living with dementia. Rated CQC Outstanding, we specialise in offering the highest quality care and service and pride ourselves on creating an enriched, supportive and welcoming environment for those in need.
If you would like to find out more, please do get in touch.
In times of need, caring for a loved one is a natural decision for many. That said, it’s not always easy. Caring for someone, no matter how much you love them, can be emotionally and physically demanding and, sometimes, it’s really important to turn that love inward and take breaks.
Supporting a loved one with dementia is never straightforward. Whether your relative has been newly diagnosed or you’re already a caregiver, there are certain steps you can take.
With Father’s Day fast approaching, many people are searching for thoughtful gifts for their loved ones. But for some, choosing the right gift can be especially difficult, particularly when buying for a family member with dementia.
Encourage positive conversations and deeper connections with dementia patients by asking the right questions. Whether over the phone, on a virtual call or in-person, the best questions phrased in the right way can invoke happy memories and shared moments. Many people with dementia can recall vivid memories from their past and love to share them. Here are some tips and questions to ask dementia patients to encourage communication.
If you’re looking for some new and interesting ways to help stimulate and entertain someone who is suffering from dementia, we can help.
Dementia is a complex condition affecting a person’s cognitive ability and can impact everything from their memory, problem-solving skills and language skills in day-to-day life. This can be extremely difficult for the person with dementia to come to terms with, especially as the condition progresses and they become more reliant on others for help with simple tasks.
Many dementia patients will also experience increased anxiety or agitation because of the condition, and one of the ways this can manifest is by increased fidgeting, especially with the hands.
It’s well-known that music is a universal language – one that speaks to us all on a primal level. It creates the soundtrack to many of our days, including some of our most cherished moments, and also has the ability to both lift our spirits and soothe us too. And, while music is an important part of many people’s lives, the benefits of music therapy for dementia patients is especially poignant. Tapping into memories and emotions on a different level, it can be a powerful tool for those living with dementia and its symptoms.
With temperatures dropping and bad weather arriving, it’s important that people with dementia get the extra care they need to be comfortable and feel safe.
Winter often brings more challenges for people with dementia and their caregivers, facing heightened feelings of social isolation and stress. Alongside the extra physical hazards from ice and snow, sometimes symptoms can get temporarily worse. People with dementia may not be able to communicate that they are cold or explain how they are feeling
As the season casts its silvery cloak and the nights draw in, there’s no better time to hunker down and cosy up than winter. One of the best activities for relaxed mornings and slow afternoons during this time of year, winter crafts offer a great way to occupy hands and minds during this season of resetting and rebalancing.