Dementia design
utilised by those living with dementia. It is these design choices that specifiers for care homes should consider to ensure all - not just those with dementia - feel welcome, independent, and cared for, as it ensures all residents, no matter their needs, can coexist amicably under one roof.
Helping with memory loss
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. To combat this, spaces should have a relatable design and colour palette. Residents should be at the heart of the design process, and this means speaking with them and their families to establish what they would like in their living environment and taking their preferences into account.
It is vital to take memories, stories, and preferences into consideration, while also integrating the crucial design features and elements that make the space functional, practical, and homely. For example, for those with dementia symptoms, painting their bedroom door the same colour as their previous front door or adding their house number will make it feel more like home. Not only does it help make the space more personal, but it also helps residents to retain their independence for much longer - and thus also maintaining their self-respect - as they can more easily recognise what is ‘theirs’.
Aiding mobility
For those struggling with sight and movement, it is essential for spaces to be
designed for easy navigation. Nearly 80 per cent of people registered blind or partially sighted are aged 65 or older, and around 60 per cent are over 75.3 As we age, colours can become ‘washed out’, making it more difficult to distinguish different colours from each other and this can make it incredibly difficult to see critical surfaces.
Critical surfaces are walls, floors, doors, and ceilings – and they are the most important elements in gathering information and understanding a space. A report by Reading University in 2004 - Colour, contrast and perception: A design guidance for internal built environments - put forward that the right contrast of colour between critical surfaces will aid navigation around that environment.
Choosing slightly stronger colours and
making sure there is a clear difference between neighbouring surfaces and objects helps residents identify key areas and potential hazards. Painting these surfaces in different colours helps to establish where walls stop and ceilings begin, and having contrasting walls and floors helps guide people through the space. People look for doors to exit a room, and so it is important for the doors to differ in colour to the floor and walls to help people locate them. In the same vein, a door the same colour as the floor can sometimes be seen as a continuation of the carpet, further highlighting the need for these to contrast.
Locating features and hazards Colour and contrast should also be integrated elsewhere in the design process to enhance key features and potential hazard points. For instance, handrails should be different to the wall to make them more visible and include a feature to indicate where they end, such as a knob or the rail turning inwards to ensure that people can feel when they have reached the end. Other key areas such as alarm panels, sanitary ware, and furniture should also be taken into consideration – as well as the use of stair nose edging that contrasts with the rest of the floor to minimise trip hazards. Radiators should also be carefully
considered to ensure occupant safety. For example, Low Surface Temperature (LST) radiators will prevent residents from coming into contact with hot surfaces and burning themselves. Choosing an LST radiator that blends into the wall colour is also key as it will be less visible and therefore reduce the risk of someone placing their
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com February 2023
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