How to Create a Dementia-Friendly Home Environment

Making your home dementia-friendly can help a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia remain comfortable, independent, and mentally stimulated.

With some adjustments, you can design a layout, decor, and atmosphere tailored to their changing needs and abilities as dementia progresses.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for cognitive conditions caused by disorders affecting the brain. It impairs things like memory, communication, reasoning, and judgement over time. There are many different forms of dementia with a range of underlying causes.

Each person’s experience with dementia is unique. However, there are some common early symptoms that may emerge gradually before a diagnosis. This includes difficulty recalling recent events or names, becoming confused even in familiar places, struggling to follow conversations, or changes in personality.

While dementia cannot be fully reversed, with the right support each individual can continue living a fulfilling life focused on their abilities and strengths. There are many actions families can take to provide thoughtful assistance tailored to the person’s changing needs.

Creating a dementia-friendly home environment is one helpful approach.

Understand Common Behaviours in Dementia

Dementia manifests differently in each person. But some typical behavioural changes include increased confusion, anxiety, sadness, restlessness, or anger.

Wandering Tendencies

Many individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias gradually develop wandering behaviours and an urge to walk extensively. This can lead to unsafe situations if the person exits the home unattended. There are several ways to adapt the home environment to discourage wandering and prevent situations where the individual could leave and become lost.

Securing outside doors and gates with alarms and locks is crucial. Cameras or sensors can also alert caregivers if someone tries to exit. Distracting a restless person with engaging activities helps redirect them. Eliminating clutter and simplifying layouts also minimises wandering behaviours.

Hoarding and Hiding Items

Some individuals with dementia start hoarding objects around the home or hiding everyday items in random locations. This hoarding tendency stems from distorted thinking the person will need the items later.

Hiding things may indicate confusion or mistrust. To discourage hoarding and hiding behaviours, it can help to minimise clutter in rooms overall. Rotate stored belongings to limit available objects. Provide organised consistent spaces for the person’s valued items to help prevent them feeling the need to stash things away secretly. Monitor trash bins which could become hoarding repositories.

Design a Straightforward, Dementia-Friendly Layout

A thoughtfully designed home layout minimises disorientation and confusion for individuals with dementia while maximising their independence and freedom of movement. Key elements include:

Simplify the Floor Plan

Consolidating rooms to create a more open-concept main living space reduces the maze-like effect of many hallways and doors. This simplified layout allows safer, easier navigation for those with dementia who may become confused by complex floor plans and narrow passageways.

If possible, rearranging furnishings or removing interior walls to create open-concept kitchen, dining, and living areas can be beneficial. This improves sightlines which aids spatial awareness and wayfinding.

Remove Tripping Hazards

Dementia often impairs motor skills, balance, coordination and reaction times. To prevent hazardous falls, ensure walking paths both indoors and outdoors remain clear of clutter and furniture obstructions.

Remove smaller rugs, especially in high-traffic areas. Repair any uneven floor surfaces. Improve lighting throughout the home, especially in stairways. Install sturdy handrails on both sides of staircases.

Improve Lighting

Proper lighting is essential for individuals with dementia to safely navigate their surroundings. Increase wattage in frequently used rooms and transition areas. Install night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to illuminate paths if someone awakens at night. Improve outdoor lighting around entrances and walking paths.

Motion sensor lights also help guide nighttime wanderers back inside. Task lighting in kitchens or workshops aids safety in those areas. Enhance natural daylight where possible.

Support Spatial Awareness and Orientation

Declining cognition associated with dementia impairs familiarity with surroundings. Visual cues help trigger memories and recognition. Useful aids include:

Use Signs and Visual Cues

Simple signs with large text and recognisable images help orient individuals within rooms. Place a picture related to the room’s purpose on or near the door. For example, a toothbrush image on the bathroom door. Use name plates to designate resident bedrooms.

Define Spaces with Colour Contrast

Painting walls, floors, or doors in noticeably different colours helps delineate individual rooms and spaces. This clear visual boundary defines areas, while colour variation adds interest. Use bright colours to call attention to potential obstacles like staircases.

Install Night Lights

Strategically placed night lights along hallways, near bathrooms and stairs provide a sense of orientation in dim environments. This prevents disorientation and risky missteps if someone awakens needing to use the bathroom or kitchen at night. Battery-operated wireless lights work for most stairways.

Use Familiar Objects

Incorporating familiar items into room decor provides memory triggers. Antique radios in sitting rooms, kitchen gadgets displayed in cooking areas, and classic family photos help define the functional purpose of spaces.

Assist with Memory Challenges

Since nearly all types of dementia involve some degree of memory impairment, implementing external aids and prompts can assist someone with recall. This compensates for declining cognitive abilities. Helpful strategies include:

Post Written Reminders

Whiteboards allow caregivers to leave short messages for upcoming events or daily “to do” lists. Large calendars, daily schedules, and regularly updated reminders posted on the refrigerator improve organisational skills and time awareness. Label doors and cabinets clearly. Leave step-by-step instructions for using appliances, electronics, or the microwave.

Designate Consistent Spots

Pick specific places to store frequently used items like eyeglasses, keys, wallets, and medications. Always return objects to these dedicated spots to develop a habit. Signs or photos can label the locations. This reduces frustration when unable to locate everyday items.

Encourage Reminiscence

Incorporating items from the individual’s past stimulates positive nostalgic memories. Display family photo albums and scrapbooks. Play favourite music from their youth. Smells like home cooking can trigger recollections. Textures and tastes also tap into sensory memories and forge connections.

Promote Engagement and Establish Soothing Routines

Remaining meaningfully active provides cognitive stimulation and improves mood for individuals with dementia. Building structured routines also increases comfort. Ideas include:

Encourage Enjoyable Hobbies

Simplifying formerly complex pastimes allows a person with dementia to participate successfully. Break activities into manageable steps and allow ample time. Provide hands-on assistance when needed along with ample encouragement and praise. Gardening, folding laundry, looking at albums together or cooking a basic recipe side-by-side lets them take part in an engaging, familiar activity.

Develop Soothing Evening Routines

Consistency in the evening routine creates a sense of soothing familiarity. Follow the same sequence of events to prepare for sleep: evening snacks, bathing, brushing teeth, bathroom, getting into night clothes. Playing calming music, guided meditation, or favourite old television shows helps relaxation. Limit stimulation and screen time before bed.

Stimulate the Senses

Incorporating scents, textures, tastes, music and recorded stories that tap into nostalgic memories from the person’s past helps provide meaningful sensory engagement. Aromas from essential oils, baking, or flowers can evoke positive recollections and conversations.

Adapt the Bathroom for Accessibility and Safety

Declining cognition and motor control increases fall risks in bathrooms. Modifications for safety include:

Grab Bars, Railings and Shower Seats

Install permanent grab bars near toilets and shower stalls. Railings beside bathtubs and raised shower benches allow safer transfers and prevent slips. Adjustable height shower heads accommodate those with mobility limitations.

Non-Slip Surfaces

Replace slick tile floors with non-slip linoleum or commercial non-slip tiles. Use only non-slip bath mats or apply textured adhesive strips inside showers/tubs. Install non-slip fibreglass seats. Proper footwear helps too.

Accessible Taps and Storage

Replace standard knob taps with easy-to-use lever handle taps. Motion-activated taps are also an option.

Open under-sink storage allows visible access to personal care items.

Bright, Glare-Free Lighting

Increase wattage of light fixtures to properly illuminate the bathroom. Avoid glossy finishes that could create glare. Install nightlights that activate automatically in darkness.

Walk-In Tubs

For those with more advanced mobility limitations, installing a walk-in bathtub with a sealable door can enable safe, independent bathing access without the high step-over required with standard tubs.

A specially designed shower wet room with safety rails and seating may also be an option worth considering.

Modify Kitchen Areas

Changes to simplify kitchen access and provide visual cues help maintain independence and dignity at mealtimes.

Install Easy-Access Taps

Once again, lever handle taps and pull-down spray taps are easier for those with dexterity or strength concerns compared to standard rotating knob taps, as are touch-activated taps. .

Use Contrasting Colours

Use contrasting coloured dishes that stand out against table settings. A white plate on a dark wood table is easier to see than matching colours that visually blur together. Contrast placemat edges with the table surface.

Label Cabinets Clearly

Use text and photos to label cabinets, drawers and shelves. For example, place a picture of a coffee mug on cabinets holding drinkware. This clarifies locations of items.

Install Discreet Safety Locks

Child safety locks and latches on drawers, cabinets and appliances prevent unsafe access to potential hazards for those with dementia who may start using stoves or tools incorrectly due to confusion.

Simplify Food Preparation

Break down recipe instructions into simple steps using pictures. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables into ready-to-cook pieces. Arrange for prepared meal delivery if cooking abilities decline. This ensures proper nutrition is still received.

Utilise Monitoring Technology

Unobtrusive home technology solutions allow greater safety and independence, while also giving caregivers added peace of mind.

Helpful devices include:

Sensors on Doors, Windows and Beds

Install contact sensors that trigger alerts if someone tries to exit the home unsupervised or is up wandering at night. Bed sensors also notify caregivers of nighttime activity.

Appliance Sensors and Shut-Offs

Stove sensors automatically shut off burners if left unattended. Overflow sensors turn off water to prevent flooding disasters.

Medical Alert Systems

Personal help buttons, wristbands or smartwatch apps allow individuals to immediately reach emergency services if needed, especially beneficial when left alone.

Discreet Cameras and Monitors

With consent, in-home video cameras and baby monitors enable caregivers to discreetly observe from another room and intervene if any concerning situation arises requiring assistance.

When To Seek Professional Dementia Care

While adapting to the home environment provides daily support, there may come a time when professional dementia care is needed for your loved one’s health and safety.

Signs it may be time to explore residential dementia care options include:

• Wandering behaviours that persist despite home modifications
• Significant personal care needs requiring round-the-clock support
• Emerging verbal or physical aggression endangering themselves or others
• Little response from current medications or treatments
• Falls or injuries occurring frequently
• Caregiver fatigue, burnout, or inability to manage escalating needs

If you feel your loved one requires more intensive supervision, trained support, and medical oversight, specialised dementia care homes provide 24/7 assistance.

There are excellent residential dementia care options available across London, Essex and the surrounding areas when needed.