Small adjustments at home can have a significant impact on helping someone with dementia feel safer and more comfortable. The right lighting, use of colour, and signage can make a world of difference. Here are some practical tips to consider when promoting safety and wellbeing.
Lighting Matters
Lighting plays an important role in creating a safer and more reassuring environment for someone with dementia. Poor lighting, sudden changes in light levels, and shadows can cause confusion, anxiety, and increase the risk of trips and falls.
- Avoid sudden changes: Going from a bright room into a dark hallway can cause disorientation and heighten the risk of falls. Ensure hallways and stairwells are well-lit, especially in the evening. Nightlights in bathrooms and corridors can be very helpful for navigating the home at night.
- Maximise natural light: Natural light helps regulate the body’s internal clock, which is vital for managing sleep patterns and reducing agitation, particularly in the late afternoon (known as ‘sundowning’). Make sure to open blinds and curtains fully during the day to let in as much sunlight as possible. As daylight fades, gradually switch on indoor lights to maintain steady, consistent lighting.
- Minimise shadows and reflections: Shadows can be unsettling or even frightening for someone with dementia, leading to increased anxiety or paranoia. Reflections from glossy floors, mirrors, or windows can also add to confusion. Using matte finishes and hanging curtains where necessary can help reduce these effects.
Fixtures and Fittings: Small Changes with Big Impact
Avoid significant changes to promote familiarity but give some thought to:
- Memorabilia: Surrounding someone with dementia with personal photos, mementos, and objects that evoke positive memories can promote well-being, in a similar way to reminiscence therapy. These familiar items provide a strong sense of self and connection.
- Mirrors: Some people with dementia may not recognise their reflection, which can cause distress. If this happens, consider removing or covering mirrors to prevent confusion or anxiety.
- Patterns: Busy or complex patterns on carpets, bedding, or curtains can overwhelm someone with dementia, making it harder for them to orient themselves. If necessary, choose simple, block colours to reduce sensory overload and confusion.
Visual Clues can support Navigation
Using colour and clear signage can make moving around the home easier and reduce confusion.
- Colour and contrast: Dementia often alters perception, making it harder to distinguish between different objects or surfaces. Strong, contrasting colours can help highlight key features such as doors, door handles, grab rails, or toilet seats. You can use coloured tape on stair edges or along handrails to make them more visible.
- Clear signage: Label doors, cupboards, and drawers with large, clear signs that feature both words and images. This makes it easier for someone with dementia to identify rooms or find essential items. For example, labelling a cupboard with both a picture and the word “plates” can help someone find what they need independently.
- Keep items visible: consider using see-through containers or easy-to-open boxes for everyday items, making it easier to know what’s inside
Managing Background Noise
While reducing background noise can be important to avoid sensory overload, it’s equally essential to remember that familiar sounds, like music, can be calming.
- Minimise unnecessary noise: Alarms, buzzers, and loud background sounds from equipment can cause distress. Consider turning off TVs or radios when they’re not being used to help maintain a calm atmosphere.
- Soothing sounds: On the flip side, familiar music and favourite songs can have a therapeutic effect. Playing gentle, familiar music can help calm agitation and reduce behaviours like pacing or wandering.
Home safety
Fire, smoke and gas safety can be especially important and simple solutions like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms can help to give you peace of mind. For those with gas cookers, locking cooker valves can be helpful gadgets.
Final Thoughts: living well at home with dementia
By paying attention to lighting, visual clues, and sensory input, you can create a safer and more supportive environment. Small adjustments, such as improving lighting, carefully selecting ornaments, reducing shadows and reflections, and using contrasting colours, can make a big difference in how someone with dementia navigates their home.
You might also consider introducing some technical features to make care easier from afar. For more practical tips and advice why not join Carents Lounge where carents share their experiences and solutions for managing day-to-day life with dementia.
