DEMENTIA friendly house
Small changes make life easier for seniors with dementia
Daily tasks are often challenging for people with Alzheimer's or dementia. But small changes around the home can have a big impact on making your life easier.
As the disease progresses , patients will have greater difficulty remembering, thinking, processing and reasoning.
The top priority should be keeping them safe and helping them to be as independent as possible.
We have 4 ways to create a more dementia-friendly home by making it easier to see and recognize commonly used objects.
These tips make everyday tasks easier, increasing confidence and reducing frustration and stress .
4 Ways to Create a Dementia-Friendly Home by Making Things Easier to See
1. Avoid reflective surfaces and maintain even lighting.
Glossy or reflective surfaces on floors or table tops can cause confusion because they create glare and shadows.
For flooring, use wood or plain carpet. If it is necessary to cover the floor, use light-colored, pattern-free coverings that are well fixed and non-slip.
For bright table tops or counters, cover with light-colored rugs or tablecloths. Dark colors can create the illusion of holes, so avoid these colors in areas you intend for the patient to use.
Try to make lighting as easy as possible by reducing glare and shadows. Add semi-sheer curtains to filter out bright sunlight and use brighter lighting for darker spaces.
2. Add images to identify things that are not in view
When someone has memory problems, it can be difficult to remember where things are.
This may mean that patients need to open every cupboard to find a mug, open every drawer to find a nightgown or not know where the toilet is.
To help someone with dementia find the things they use frequently, it's helpful to add large, easy-to-see photos of the outside of doors or drawers to identify what's inside.
For example, place the image of a toilet on the bathroom door, making sure it stands out against the color of the door. On a kitchen cabinet, place a photo of your favorite mug.
Prioritize the objects to be labeled, as too many photos can increase confusion.
3. Use contrasting colors to highlight important things
Careful use of contrasting colors also helps seniors with dementia see things better.
For example, a red plate makes eating easier because the plate stands out from a light-colored table, and many foods stand out against the red plate.
When the patient can clearly see what they are eating, it allows them independence in the act of eating.
Using the toilet can be quite a challenge because most bathrooms have light-colored floors, walls and toilets.
This can make it difficult for a person with dementia to find the toilet and can lead to accidental use of another place, such as the crate or bathtub. Changing the toilet seat to a colorful one makes it easier to see where to sit at a glance.
If the patient has trouble finding an important room, such as the bedroom or bathroom, they can also paint that door a contrasting color.
Or personalize their bedroom door with a large photo of themselves. This can also prevent them from accidentally entering other people's rooms when looking for yours.
And to make turning on the lights easier, you may want to change the light switch plates so they stand out clearly from the wall. For example, if your walls are white, try a colored switch plate .
4. Make large glass panels more visible
It may be more difficult for people with dementia to see large panes of glass. This can cause accidents and injuries.
To make glass more visible, add non-adhesive decals , photos or posters to shower doors, patio doors or picture windows. This can also be a fun way to decorate!