FURNITURE & INTERIORS


According to David Bailey Furniture it is the detail that make all the difference in terms of making the best use of colour and design. It is well known that a well-designed visual environment can be particularly helpful to patients with partial sight. Colour can play a major role in creating accessible environments. Surface textures and choice of materials also provide visual and tactile clues to help people with poor vision. In such cases colour contrast can identify obstacles and hardware that might otherwise prove difficult to negotiate.


In recognition of the role that colour plays, David Bailey Furniture has an extensive colour palette to choose from. Care homes can almost have any colour or shade they want to blend in with any room or public area.


Contrary to popular belief, elderly people – particularly those living with dementia – do not have difficulty differentiating similar colours which means that care homes can incorporate a wide variety of different shades and tones.


Modern care homes have been quick to recognise the role that a good visual environment offers. In previous years homes that have specialised in dementia care were frequently felt to be uninspiring, but recent developments and reports from environmental psychologists have proved that when space is warm, positive and well designed, it can significantly improve patients mental- wellbeing and healthcare.


“Surface textures and choice


of materials also provide visual and tactile clues to help people with poor vision.”


According to the Alzheimer’s Society, a person with dementia will need more care and support as their condition progresses, and there may come a time when they will need to move into full-time or residential care. This, says the Society, could be because a care home may be able to meet the needs of the person better. Or it could be because something changes that then makes it difficult for the person with dementia to stay living at home.


When that change comes, it is more important than ever that such residents feel instantly comfortable in an environment that incorporates colour and texture to help ensure that the home feels more welcoming.


The Guardian newspaper reported as far back in 2013 that fewer than half of people with dementia and living in care homes enjoy a good quality of life. The article suggested that 80% of people in residential care homes have either dementia or severe memory problems – a rise from previous estimates of 62%, adding that less than 50% of the 322,000 sufferers in care homes at that time could claim to be well looked aſter.


That situation has changed considerably in recent years with carers and care homes no longer willing to settle for average and while homes are oſten thought of as a last resort, it is oſten a necessary one, especially for the care of people with dementia.


twitter.com/TomorrowsCare


Companies such as David Bailey Furniture alongside architects will readily advise care home owners as to the best use of colour and how it can be incorporated as a therapeutic tool in terms of providing better dementia care.


The advice also includes guidance relating to labels and signs which can help someone with dementia get around more easily. Labels and signs on cupboards and doors can be helpful, such as a toilet sign on the bathroom or toilet door. Signs should be clear, have words and an appropriate picture that will contrast with the background and be placed slightly lower than normal as older people tend to look downwards.


Care home owners and managers have welcomed such advice and support and are prepared to work more closely with leading manufacturers like David Bailey Furniture to ensure the delivery of modern solutions to meet the needs of residences in the 21st century, while at all times delivering maximum quality and precision.


Safety and hygiene are also major factors as well as the use of good colour. Fixed storage units are now fitted with sloping tops to ensure dust is unable to build up and any surfaces can be easily wiped clean. Serious consideration must be given to ensuring that there are no sharp corners or edges where less mobile patients might be injured as a result of a fall.


Colour of course, can simply be down to personal choice or the need to reflect a logo style for a particular care home, which is why owners and managers should be thinking again about décor. Colour, as we have already established, can change the mood of a room, encourage an active mind and make people feel at home in otherwise unfamiliar territory.


Many of those living with dementia experience difficulties with their sight and perception which leads them to easily misinterpret their surroundings and any steps that can be taken to alleviate this should be considered. As already mentioned, using bright and contrasting colours for furniture and furnishings can help these to be distinguished more easily.


While sympathetic colours look good and contribute towards setting the right ambience, they also play a vital role in terms of assisting with navigation and movement. Having distinctive door colours for restrooms, bedrooms and shared areas can help residents find their way around, encouraging independence.


In general terms, care homes tend to turn to opt for more neutral colours such as green which is known to make a room appear more restful. Experts also suggest that bolder colours such as red should be avoided in bedrooms.


There is no doubt that care homes are striving to be more welcoming, but that is difficult when you have rooms using furniture sourced over many years when compared to recently built facilities.


So, we can see that the challenges faced in the care home sector are just going to get worse and anything that can help improve the lives of staff and residents must be welcomed. Simple changes such as the better use of colour and furniture that blends in with those different shades and textures, can make a huge difference – so is it time for your care home to bring in the decorators?


https://davidbaileyfurniture.co.uk - 27 -


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38