Dementia Friendly Home Furnishings
Incorporating Dementia friendly Home Furnishments such as Blinds and Lighting into the home can make it safer for people living with dementia. It also helps to consider where you place furniture and other items. There are also sensory lighting options available. Below are some tips for choosing and placing blinds and lighting in your home. We hope you find these tips helpful. Let us know if we can help.
Blinds
The design of a home must be suitable for people with dementia. Carefully selected home furnishings can improve the safety, memory support and personal abilities of a loved one. Blinds, curtains and window management are all necessary, look for shops stocking perfect fit blinds for doors. Dementia-friendly blinds and draperies are recommended to prevent shadows and glare. Blinds and draperies should be of a darker colour than walls. This allows for a restful sleep.
To help the person with dementia navigate the bathroom, make sure that the floor is level and stable. Installing blinds in bathrooms can help if a person has difficulty walking. It is important to keep the floors dry. Also, keep mirrors and other reflective surfaces out of reach. They can be a hazard in the event of a fall. A patient with dementia is also likely to become confused if there is a mirror in the room.
Another aspect of lighting should be kept in mind when selecting blinds and curtains. Dementia patients often have trouble seeing colour and depth. Black doormats might appear as a huge hole in the floor, and a white one may look like water. Hence, it is important to install blinds and curtains with blackout lining to keep the room dark. Blinds and curtains will be an excellent choice when it comes to improving the safety of a loved one with dementia.
Carefully choosing shades and blinds will also help to improve the comfort and vision of the person with dementia. Also, use contrasting colors for railings and door handles, so that people with dementia can identify them more easily. Good lighting is also essential in creating a dementia-friendly environment. It can help reduce falls, confusion and glare, and improve quality of life. If the homeowner is unsure, ask the local council to help make the necessary changes.
Lighting
Good lighting helps people with dementia see where they are going and identify spaces, equipment, and signs. Proper lighting also allows them to engage in activities, join routines, and experience the changes in seasons. Poor lighting makes it difficult to see what is around them and increases anxiety. It also creates unnecessary stress. Blinds and other home furnishings with adequate lighting can help people with dementia live a happier and healthier life.
Natural lighting is important. People with dementia need twice as much light as someone of their age. Dark areas appear ominous, and shadows can be misinterpreted by people with dementia. To provide a bright, even environment, use window blinds and light-colored curtains. A dementia-friendly home should also have easy-to-access light switches. Automatic light sensors can turn on lights when someone passes by.
Bright colours should be used in the bedroom, as people with dementia have trouble identifying objects and colors. Use brightly coloured curtains or blinds to help them distinguish their rooms. Brightly coloured furniture, including mirrors, can also help the patient identify objects and faces. A list of important numbers and contact details is also helpful. Brightly colored furniture is also good for dementia patients. And when in doubt, keep a list of phone numbers handy so you can call them easily.
During the day, the lighting should be dim or black. This will prevent your loved one from becoming overly stimulated or disoriented. In addition to light therapy, you should choose non-glare paint instead of glossy. Moreover, you should avoid blue light or LED lights in the room. This will help people with dementia sleep better and avoid confusion. However, warm colors help with circadian rhythms.
Placement of furniture
There are many simple ways to make a room more dementia-friendly. Avoid using bright colors and keep the room clean. Use a small bulletin board to list daily activities and routines. Direct loved ones to this board. Also, keep items in a special place and label cupboards, drawers, and doors. Make sure to place labels at eye level. Keep tripping hazards out of the way and store a list of important phone numbers and addresses.
Choosing contrasting colours is another great way to make a room easier to navigate. People with dementia have very distorted perceptions, so any pattern or fleck on the floor will be misinterpreted as debris. Highly pronounced wood grain may trigger an unpleasant reaction. Light, single-color floors are ideal for those with dementia, as darker hues may look like empty spaces or holes. Blinds, curtains, and other furniture with contrasting colors will make a room more accessible.
Putting personal items near the bed can provide comfort to the person with dementia. Having a clock that reads in analogue is helpful because the person with dementia can easily confuse the time and location of different things in a room. Another key point is the safety of the bedroom. Dementia patients may struggle to get into or out of bed, and electric blankets and hot water bottles may not be safe to use.
Sensory lighting
A few things are crucial for a dementia-friendly home. Good lighting helps people see clearly and distinguish between day and night. Blinds and curtains in the living room should be opened to allow natural light into the space. They also provide visual stimulation, as well as help the individual with dementia recognize different objects and places. In addition, ensuring that interior spaces have adequate lighting is also essential. Multiple sources of lighting can create even lighting throughout the room, and additional task lighting in well-used areas can help individuals with dementia remain alert.
Another important thing for a dementia-friendly home is reducing clutter. Clutter can make it difficult for people with memory problems to find objects and misplace things. The brighter the furnishings, the better. It is also a good idea to have furniture that has rounded edges, as individuals with dementia have trouble recognizing patterns and navigating their surroundings. Also, avoid placing paintings and photographs in the room, as they may confuse the person with dementia.
Bright colours are also an important consideration. Dementia patients may be unable to distinguish objects and colours, so brightly colored blinds and toilet seats can help them feel more comfortable. Bright colours should also contrast with walls and floors. Similarly, blinds and drapes are essential for preventing people with dementia from seeing their reflection in mirrors. This way, people with dementia are more likely to recognise their reflection in a mirror and be more comfortable with it.
Another important aspect of dementia-friendly home design is lighting. Lights should be at the appropriate level, and blinds should be open during the day to allow natural light in. Also, lights and window management should be adjusted to avoid glare or reflections. The light should be evenly distributed so that it is easy to see objects. Dim lighting is also beneficial in preventing tripping hazards, since it makes the person more alert and can better recognize their surroundings.
Music
Adding plants, flowers, and scented candles to a person’s home can provide natural sensory stimulation. Music can provide positive sensory stimulation as well as negative over-stimulation. As such, it is important to carefully manage the type and volume of music in the environment. Avoid playing music that could be distracting or annoying, and choose music that will be meaningful for the individual. Also, bright crockery and placemats can help a person remember happier times.
Using reminiscence therapy or narrative care is an effective way to reduce depression in people with dementia. Researchers have found that stories narrated by dementia patients can reduce the incidence of depression in dementia adults by 15 percent. Dementia often results in short-term memory loss, and displaying older photos can help the person remember their memories. Other helpful items include clocks and life story audio archives.
Darkening rooms can help a person with dementia feel more secure. They may confuse their reflection in a mirror with someone watching them, so keep windows closed at night. Also, street lights at night can cause reflections in windows. Dementia sufferers may think a stranger is watching them, so draw the blinds or curtains when the room is dark. When it’s time for bed, remove the clothes from the wardrobe and put them in their beds, where they can see themselves better.