Dementia care design


yet depicting a calming scenario of green fields and water.


Roll-up for wallpaper Similarly, wallpaper can be used as murals on corridors. Digitally printed wallpaper has been popular for years for feature walls in open spaces, but Portobello Art has gone one step further with one-piece wallpaper. This eradicates any previous issues,


such as joining intrinsic designs seamlessly, as the one-piece covers expansive areas eliminating the need for seams. There have always been some limitations with certain designs and images where the joins are notoriously difficult to match up but with one piece wallpaper the image is printed seamlessly up to five metres high and almost any width imaginable! This is particularly popular in


dementia care homes as it is known that some residents will be obsessed with seams and want to pick at them and tear them apart and this is no longer possible with one piece wallpaper. Likewise, for people in the later stages


of dementia, who are easily made anxious by too many distractions, by bold and loud colors, or by busy patterns - especially those with vertical stripes that might make them feel caged in - images with warmer, earthy and quieter colours are better. Calming images like woodlands, fields,


parks, lakes and beaches can be used to break up the monotony of flatly-colored walls, but they need to be kept simple and familiar. People living with dementia often have


short-term memory problems – they can forget the names of their partners, children and friends but they remember a lot about the past. Anything that evokes memories of


times gone by can be really important as they can go back in time and it can jog their memory into further activity if they can see things from the past and it becomes a talking point. A strange place can be made to seem familiar with nostalgic wall art that recalls the past. Designer Diana Celella, owner of


Drawing Room Interiors, agrees wholeheartedly. "Artwork plays a very important role in any care home or retirement living interior, adding to the


wellbeing of the residents by creating a homely and stimulating atmosphere.” Diana adds: “Artwork can be used to


inspire memories, encourage discussions, and produces feelings of warmth and familiarity as well as being an aid to way-finding."


Local heroes Another topic can be images from the local area, iconic landmarks or attractions, cityscapes or street scenes, even maps of the local area. Images that are familiar can be a great way to stimulate the mind and can spark memories and conversations among residents and provide common topics to discuss. Where did you move to? Have you


ever visited London? Where was your favourite holiday? A resident with dementia might not know where they are in the present, but many will remember where they were in their younger past. Another designer we have worked with


in recent months, Cliona Henderson of Studio Henderson, reinforces this. "We feel it is important that the art in


care homes resonates with its residents. In our recent flagship scheme in Elmswood Park, we produced a large format walk in the park wall graphic - a photograph taken from the local Alexandra Park - which struck a cord with the staff and residents alike. If we can’t get you to the park let us take it to you!”


For people in the later stages of dementia…images with warmer, earthy and quieter colours are better


February 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


Cliona continues: “Art can help to


boost confidence and make us feel more engaged and resilient. Besides these benefits, art engagement also alleviates anxiety, depression and stress and these factors are extremely important for us to address in any scheme we design for dementia care homes." Wall graphics and familiar images


can also be very useful in providing aide-memoires in rooms where the residents congregate. l Dining rooms - where appealing food images can help stimulate the appetite.


l Activity rooms - showing examples of some of the activities that take place there.


l Bathrooms - which can be turned into inviting spas.


l Hair salons, gyms etc.


Furthermore, if the images can be related to that particular room or activity then it makes the resident feel more at


31


First Care, Cambridge/Portobello Art


Moss St Vincents, Elmswood Park/Studio Henderson/Portobello Art

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