Making a home more dementia friendly
We advocate the importance of a person with dementia being able to remain in their own home.
However, if they are living alone, it’s important to make sure they are safe. There is potentially a large amount of time they could be spending alone, especially if a carer is only visiting once per day.
It’s important to ensure they stay safe and comfortable in their environment. There are some simple changes people can make to a home to make it more dementia friendly. We have previously shared these with our own service users and have decided to share them with you too, so you can implement them in yours or your loved-one’s home.
Make sure the property is secure
Deterring potential thieves is a must. You can read our blog post on keeping a home secure here.
Let there be light
Having good lighting is a must for anyone living at home with dementia, so they can see clearly and make sense of where they are. Check that natural light is not blocked, and windows are cleaned regularly.
Brighten up décor and accessories
It’s important for anyone with dementia to be able to distinguish the difference between objects and rooms so the colours of beds, tables and chairs should be plain and contrast with walls and floors. Try to avoid patterns and stripes as they can become confusing.
Contrasting colours for toilet seats, rails, taps and towels are also a good idea and make the bathroom easier for someone to find.
Use visual clues or labels
Labels on the outside of cupboards, drawers, wardrobes and even on doors can be a huge help. You should also make sure items that the person needs daily, such as glasses, keys and other household bits and bobs, are within easy reach. Appliances should be out and easy to find too.
While these changes can be made to a service user’s home when they first take on a care contract with us, their needs may change and as our carers will be visiting on a regular basis, they are able to determine what does and doesn’t work for the service user and can advise accordingly.
