10 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Dementia-Friendly

Learn 10 simple ways to make your home dementia-friendly. Our practical tips will help you create a safe, comfortable environment for your loved one.

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Living with a loved one who has dementia can be challenging, but making some simple changes to your home can make a big difference in their comfort and safety. Here are ten easy ways to create a dementia-friendly environment to help your loved one feel more independent and safe. These practical changes can give peace of mind to family members and caregivers.

Ten ways to make your home more dementia-friendly

Dementia affects memory, thinking, and how people understand their surroundings, making it harder to move around safely at home. However, with a few easy changes, you can turn your home into a place that meets your loved one’s needs and reduces stress. Whether improving the lighting, helping with navigation, or creating a calming atmosphere, each step you take will make your loved one more comfortable and safe in their home environment.

This article will cover ten ways to make your home more dementia-friendly. These simple and practical tips aim to help with the specific challenges people with dementia face. By making these changes, you can create a space that allows your loved one to be more independent while staying safe.

Improve Lighting

Good lighting is essential to help prevent falls and reduce confusion. Make sure your home is well-lit, especially in hallways, stairs, and entrances, to create a safe and dementia-friendly environment. Use natural light as much as possible because it helps regulate circadian rhythms, improving sleep and mood. Motion-activated lights can also be beneficial, especially at night, so your loved one doesn’t have to look for light switches.

Tip: Avoid Shadows and Glare

Ensure the lighting is even throughout the house to avoid shadows, which can be confusing or scary for someone with dementia, as these shadows may become a trip hazard. Anti-glare light bulbs and light-diffusing lampshades can also make the environment more comfortable.

Extra Lighting Tips

Use dimmable lights to adjust brightness depending on the time of day. Soft, warm lights are better in the evening, while bright, natural light is great during the day. You could also add lights under cabinets or along baseboards to brighten paths without overwhelming your loved one.

Simplify Navigation with Clear Signs

People with dementia often have trouble remembering things or understanding where they are in their homes, as dementia can affect their cognitive abilities. Label doors and cabinets with clear signs or pictures to help them find their needs. For example, put a picture of a cup on the kitchen cabinet where cups are stored or a picture of a toilet on the bathroom door so they can quickly identify it. Bright labels and arrows can guide them in the right direction and make everyday tasks easier.

Tip: Use Colour Coding

Colour-coded signs can be beneficial. Use colours that stand out to make essential areas or objects easy to notice.

Extra Navigation Tips

Put simple maps of the house in key areas, like the living room or hallway, to help your loved one remember where things are. Keep the signs and labels consistent throughout the house. You could also use textured floor stickers to mark pathways, helping people living with dementia navigate around the home more efficiently. Pathways, helping people living with dementia navigate around the home more easily—critical pathways, such as the route to the bathroom or kitchen.

Reduce Clutter for Safety

A clutter-free home is much safer for someone with dementia. Reducing clutter lowers the risk of falls, makes it easier for them to find things, and makes them feel less confused. Keep surfaces clear and store away unused items, like old magazines, unnecessary decorations, or small appliances that are rarely used, to prevent any trip hazards around the home. Limit the number of decorative items and extra furniture to make the space simpler.

Tip: Keep Essentials Close

Keep items your loved one uses often in easy-to-reach places. This will help them be more independent and avoid the frustration of trying to find things.

Extra Tips for Reducing Clutter

Use labelled bins or baskets to organise items so your loved one can easily find what they need. Transparent containers are also suitable because they allow your loved one to see what’s inside without opening them. Keep pathways clear of obstacles, like electrical cords or low furniture, to make moving around more accessible and reduce the risk of trip hazards for people living with dementia.

Use Contrasting Colours

Different colours can help someone with dementia quickly tell objects and surfaces apart. For example, a dark mat on a light floor can show a step or change in level. Make sure furniture stands out against the walls and floor so they can see where things start and end.

Warning: Avoid Dark Mats at Doorways

Dark mats can look like holes to someone with dementia, making them afraid to step on them. Instead, use light-coloured mats that blend in with the floor.

More Colour Ideas

Use contrasting colours on door frames and handles to make them more visible. You can also paint the edges of stairs a bright colour to help your loved one see each step. In the kitchen, use plates and utensils in colours that stand out from the table or countertop to make eating easier.

Install Safety Devices

Safety devices are essential in a dementia-friendly home. Locks on doors and windows that are out of sight can help prevent wandering. Motion sensors or door alarms can let caregivers know if your loved one leaves a room or the house. Safety gates can also help protect them from dangerous areas like stairs or the kitchen.

Tip: Use Smart Technology

Smart devices like automatic stove shut-offs, fall detection systems, and smart plugs can increase safety for people with dementia.

Extra Safety Devices

You could use pressure-sensitive mats near doors or beds to inform caregivers if your loved one is moving unexpectedly. GPS tracking devices can also be helpful if your loved one tends to wander. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms with voice alerts can be better for someone who might not react to regular alarms.

Use Familiar Items for Comfort

Familiar items can help reduce anxiety for people with dementia. Surround them with photos, particular belongings, and mementoes. Creating a memory box with items from their past can help them remember positive experiences and feel more secure.

Tip: Avoid Too Many Decorations

Too many decorations can be overwhelming. Stick to a few meaningful items that bring positive memories.

Personalise Their Space

Decorate their room with things that reflect their hobbies or interests, like books, artwork, or collections. Keep photo albums or scrapbooks nearby so they can look at them whenever possible. Adding familiar scents, like their favourite perfume or flowers, can also help make them feel more at home.

Create a Calming Environment

A calming environment can help improve the mood and behaviour of someone with dementia. To create a peaceful space, use soft colours like light blue or green for the walls. This will make the home environment more calming for people living with dementia. Play gentle background music and add comfort with soft, warm fabrics for cushions and blankets to create a dementia-friendly environment.

Tip: Use Calming Scents

Scents like lavender can help calm people with dementia. To create a relaxing atmosphere, use essential oil diffusers or scented candles (in a safe holder).

Extra Tips for Calm Spaces

To enhance the dementia-friendly atmosphere, create a “relaxation corner” with comfy seating, soft blankets, and sensory items like stress balls or textured pillows. Adding plants or a small indoor water fountain can make the space more peaceful. Keeping the lights dim and reducing loud noises in the evening can also help your loved one stay calm.

Use Visual Clocks and Calendars for Routine

Having a daily routine can help someone with dementia feel more stable. Use large, easy-to-read clocks and calendars to help them understand the time and keep track of daily activities. A whiteboard with a simple schedule for the day can also be very helpful.

Tip: Use Digital Clocks

Digital clocks that show the day, date, and time can help reduce confusion and anxiety about what time it is.

Keeping a Routine

Having regular meal times, exercise, and rest times can make your loved one feel safer and less anxious by reducing confusion and creating a sense of stability, which is very important for people with dementia. Use pictures or symbols to show different activities on the calendar. Involve them in simple daily tasks, like setting the table, to help people living with dementia feel more independent and have a sense of purpose.

Make the Bathroom Safer

The bathroom can be a dangerous area for someone with dementia. To help prevent falls, add grab bars next to the toilet and in the shower. Use a non-slip mat in the tub and consider a raised toilet seat for extra safety. Colourful grab bars and toilet seats can make these fixtures easier to see.

Tip: Use a Shower Chair

A shower chair can make bathing safer and less stressful, especially for people with trouble standing for long periods.

Extra Bathroom Safety Tips

Use a hand-held showerhead to make bathing easier. Add a thermostatic valve to keep the water from getting too hot and causing burns. Label cupboards and drawers in the bathroom to make it easier for your loved one to find things, and use towels in bright colours to make them stand out in a dementia-friendly manner.

Provide Meaningful Activities

Boredom can lead to anxiety and restlessness in people with dementia. Give your loved one activities they enjoy, like puzzles, colouring books, or gardening. Keeping their hands and minds busy can help people living with dementia feel a sense of purpose and adaptation in their daily lives.

Tip: Include Simple Household Tasks

Simple tasks like folding laundry, sorting cutlery, or watering plants can make your loved one feel helpful. These activities are engaging and help maintain their motor skills.

More Activity Ideas

Try activities engaging their senses, like painting, music, or baking. Spending time outdoors, like walking in the garden or sitting on the porch, can also relax and improve mood. Adapt activities to their abilities so they are enjoyable and not frustrating.

Final thoughts

You are making your home dementia-friendly, so it doesn’t have to be Complicated. Tasks can overwhelm people living with dementia, so it’s essential to simplify activities.. Using these ten simple strategies, you can create a safer and more comfortable environment for your loved one. Small changes, like improving lighting, reducing clutter, and using familiar items, can significantly improve their quality of life. The key is to support their independence while keeping them safe and comfortable.

Taking care of someone with dementia can be difficult. Still, with these thoughtful adjustments, you can create a home that promotes well-being and provides peace of mind for everyone. Whether the changes are big or small, they can help make life easier and more enjoyable for your loved one and provide comfort for caregivers. Consistency, familiarity, and safety are essential parts of a dementia-friendly home.

What are some easy ways to make my home dementia-friendly?

You can make your home dementia-friendly by using better lighting, reducing trip hazards, ensuring floors are safe, and adding bathroom grab rails.

Why is it important to make my home safe and comfortable for someone with dementia?

Making your home safe and comfortable is crucial because people living with dementia may feel confused and distracted in unfamiliar or unsafe environments. A supportive home environment will help them feel secure.

How can I improve lighting in my home for someone with dementia?

You can improve lighting by ensuring better lighting throughout the home, using natural light during the day, and adding contrasting colours to the rest of the décor to help someone with dementia tell the difference between colours.

What kind of adaptations to the home are recommended for people with dementia?

Adaptations to your home environment include removing trip hazards to ensure safe floors, installing grab rails, and using signs to guide someone with dementia to the toilet or other important areas.

How can I ensure floors are safe for someone with dementia?

To ensure floors are safe, remove any trip hazards, such as loose rugs or clutter, and consider using non-slip flooring. This will help prevent falls and make it easier for someone with dementia to navigate their space.

What role does assistive technology play in making a home dementia-friendly?

Assistive technology, also known as adaptations designed for people living with dementia, can include devices like automatic lights, reminder systems, and other tools that help support a person with dementia in daily life.

How can I create a calming environment for someone with dementia?

To create a calming environment, use soft, warm colours, keep the space clutter-free, and ensure a quiet place for relaxation. This helps reduce confusion and anxiety for people affected by dementia.

How do curtains help in a dementia-friendly home?

Curtains can help by blocking out bright light in the evening, which may help someone with dementia sleep better. Using curtains in contrasting colours can also help them identify windows and doors more easily.

1 thought on “10 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Dementia-Friendly”

Care Agency Media
January 29, 2024 at 5:28 am

Brilliant post! Thank you so much for sharing such amazing content. It was so helpful.

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