Dementia design
Right paint, right colour, right design
Knowing the best design practices to apply in care homes is key to creating a comfortable and homely environment optimised for both residents and staff – especially when it comes to caring for those living with dementia. Lisa Pilley, senior colour designer at Dulux Trade, explains the best colour solutions and paints to choose when designing or refreshing dementia friendly care homes
Making residents feel comfortable is a top priority for care home managers and staff, which is why it is important to understand the role that colour and design can play in achieving this. The right design, colour, and paint formulas are crucial for creating a space that is not only homely and relaxing, but practical and safe. For elderly residents - particularly those living with dementia, who, according to the Alzheimer’s Society, make up 75 per cent of care home residents - there are specific paint and design choices that can improve quality of life and the overall care home experience. To know how to cater to residents’
varying needs, it is important to understand the reasons behind their requirements. Many care homes cater for residents both with and without dementia, so it is important to ensure that building designs meet the needs of everyone.
How dementia impacts the design of care homes
According to the National Institute on Aging, dementia is “a loss of cognitive functioning - thinking, remembering and reasoning - to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily lives and activities.”1
Statistics from the Alzheimer’s
Society show that there are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over one million by 2025, and due to further skyrocket to two million by 2051.2
Dementia comes in many forms, and
symptoms can manifest differently in each person. Memory loss often comes to mind first, but those with dementia can also experience loss of balance and mobility issues – and all of these are exacerbated by poorly designed spaces. These symptoms can also be experienced by other care home residents, so knowing how spaces can cater to these needs is fundamental in ensuring all can maintain a level of independence and are cared for in the most effective and inclusive way.
Those suffering with memory loss can often fail to recognise environments that they regularly spend time in, resulting in them getting confused and disorientated easily
February 2023
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
As a useful tool for those designing care homes, Dulux Trade’s Commercial Colour Services team partnered with the British Research Establishment (BRE) to develop a Dementia Friendly Colour Palette in an effort to bring colour into people’s lives in every sense of the phrase. The design of the palette derives from vast experience in design and dementia research from collaborations with Loughborough University and Halsall Lloyd Partnerships and is grounded in evidence-based design principles that offer guidance on how to create environments that prioritise the wellbeing of those living with dementia. As well as recommendations on the best colours to use, we also offer advice on how to incorporate inclusive design into the spaces
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All images in this feature are courtesy of BRE.
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