Designing for Dementia: Enhancing Care Homes for Optimal Well-Being

May 15, 2023 Liam Dible

This week is Dementia Action Week (15 - 21 May), this is an awareness-raising campaign run by the Alzheimer's Society and they work with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to act on dementia.

Dementia design has been in the spotlight recently so we thought we would highlight the importance of creating supportive environments for individuals living with dementia. In this article, we will explore some of the key considerations for effective dementia-friendly design in modern care homes.

Understanding Dementia

To create a dementia-friendly care home, it is essential to understand the impact of dementia on individuals. This knowledge helps tailor the physical environment to support cognitive abilities, memory, and spatial perception.

1. Promoting Orentation & Safety

Clear signage, colour contrast, and visual cues aid navigation for individuals with dementia. Effective signage should be readable and incorporate symbols. Safety measures, such as non-slip flooring and rounded furniture edges, reduce the risk of falls. Adequate lighting enhances visibility and minimizes shadows.

Clear contrast between certain surfaces for visual impairment

LRVs (light reflectance values) to be minimal between flooring type changes – threshold strips to be avoided where possible.

Clear signage with both text and icons – depending on the individual, one or the other may be less understandable

BOH doors are decorated as though they are part of the wall so residents avoid wanting to use them.

Clear, bold colourways for navigation – using a clear colour palette for each floor (particularly when coming out of the lift) can allow residents to clearly see where they are within the home. Using clear signage and artwork cues can help.

Themed areas of artwork can also help with way-finding e.g. residents may remember the way to the garden based on a floral-themed corridor etc.

Well-placed activities/objects of interest/furniture within corridors to avoid residents endlessly walking up and down

Alternative colour toilet seats to show clear definition from toilet

Mirrors to be avoided or be easily removed for some residents who may no longer recognise themselves/may think someone else is in there

Alternative mirror placements inside lifts when possible to avoid residents thinking there’s someone already in there when needing to go inside

Rounded edges on all furniture

Table height bar spaces to allow residents to sit at them easily (instead of bar stools)

High slip rating to all flooring to avoid falls

Clear contrast between certain surfaces for visual impairment
LRVs (light reflectance values) to be minimal between flooring type changes – threshold strips to be avoided where possible.
Clear signage with both text and icons – depending on the individual, one or the other may be less understandable
BOH doors are decorated as though they are part of the wall so residents avoid wanting to use them.
Clear, bold colourways for navigation – using a clear colour palette for each floor (particularly when coming out of the lift) can allow residents to clearly see where they are within the home. Using clear signage and artwork cues can help.
Themed areas of artwork can also help with way-finding e.g. residents may remember the way to the garden based on a floral-themed corridor etc.
Well-placed activities/objects of interest/furniture within corridors to avoid residents endlessly walking up and down
Alternative colour toilet seats to show clear definition from toilet
Mirrors to be avoided or be easily removed for some residents who may no longer recognise themselves/may think someone else is in there
Alternative mirror placements inside lifts when possible to avoid residents thinking there’s someone already in there when needing to go inside
Rounded edges on all furniture
Table height bar spaces to allow residents to sit at them easily (instead of bar stools)
High slip rating to all flooring avoid falls

2. Creating Familiar & Homely Spaces

Design elements like domestic-style kitchens and memory boxes create a sense of familiarity and stimulate memories. These features encourage conversation among residents and staff, fostering a comforting and engaging atmosphere.

Personal artwork/photos with family members and friends in resident bedrooms for familiarity and comfort. Can stimulate brain function and help cognitive ability

Personal artwork/Photos outside resident rooms to help them recognize which door is theirs.

Touch and smell are the longest lasting senses and therefore anything that can stimulate these will be hugely beneficial; cozy textures on throws, cushions and upholstery for residents to play and interact with; scent sprays with reminiscent connotations (e.g. fish and chips at the beach, lavender in the garden etc)

Recognizable icons/symbols, particularly for wayfinding

Soft furnishings for texture, but also to make spaces feel homely and cozy

Tailoring the design of a space to the area in which it’s situated can be really helpful to create conversations between staff and residents and make the place familiar and homely for residents. For example, having artwork/photos from the local area can be recognizable and help instigate memories.

3. Utilizing Light, Nature, & Sensory Stimulation

Access to natural light, garden views, and sensory gardens positively impact well-being. They regulate sleep patterns, improve mood, and reduce agitation. Incorporating tactile surfaces, soothing aromas, and calming sounds enhances the sensory experience, promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

Access to windows/views and garden spaces

Outdoor terraces with growing spaces can be hugely beneficial and give residents a sense of purpose

Every day activities to be offered throughout the home (washing up, knitting etc) – this can help cognitive and physical ability

4. Embracing Person-Centered Design & Staff Training

Designing with individual needs, preferences, and abilities in mind is crucial. Flexible spaces and personalized bedrooms promote autonomy and independence. Staff training on dementia, symptoms, and communication techniques ensures the provision of person-centred care, creating a supportive environment.

Understanding that dementia can affect every individual in a completely different way – getting to know each resident personally can help gauge what does and doesn’t work for them. For example, icons or words for signage, what activities they enjoy, etc.

Making sure spaces are well-equipped for residents to do things themselves, not just relying on staff to do things for them – keeping those with dementia active and giving them the ability to make their own tea can be hugely beneficial in stopping the progression of certain types of dementia and will keep residents more active physically.

Designing a dementia-friendly care home involves many different things from understanding dementia and its effects though to embracing person-centred design with well-trained staff.

By implementing these concepts, care homes can enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia. Creating a supportive and engaging environment helps residents navigate their surroundings, reduces the risk of accidents, evokes familiarity, and stimulates positive sensory experiences. Embracing person-centred design and providing staff training ensures that residents receive the necessary support and care they deserve.

Designing for dementia is a collaborative effort that requires empathy, understanding, and ongoing evaluation. By continuously assessing residents' needs and adapting the environment accordingly, care homes can provide a safe, comfortable, and stimulating space that promotes well-being and preserves the dignity of individuals living with dementia.