Acoustics
Addressing acoustic challenges to create a sociable environment
The impact of noise – especially on those living with dementia – should not be underestimated. Here, Pritesh Nathwani, director at Symphony Sound, explains how good design and modern technology can help overcome the acoustic challenges that may arise in care homes
When it comes to creating inviting communal spaces in care homes, acoustic considerations are an important part of the overall experience for residents, staff, and visitors alike. Your ability to hear deteriorates with age, and hearing loss affects over 70 per cent of people aged over 70 years. Many people, even those commissioning or designing care homes, do not realise how problematic acoustic challenges can be for older people. It is very important that the hearing environment in a care home is not overlooked. Older people move into a care home
for a variety of reasons. It is safe to assume that relatives will be looking for peace of mind, and potential residents will be hoping to make new friends. The communal environment is a crucial part of the experience. Residents meet and dine together and most care homes put on a programme of activities to engage residents, helping them to stay mentally active and to socialise. Residents will struggle to participate in a social gathering if they cannot hear properly. The hearing and communication difficulties care home residents might encounter centre around three main factors – hearing at distance, reverberation, and background noise. Furthermore, noise, or ‘acoustic intrusion’ can impact on wellbeing. The hearing loss that is common among older adults is exacerbated by dementia. This is because the condition complicates the ability to filter and prioritise sounds, leading to increased confusion and agitation.
Care home residents who are suffering with hearing difficulties that are not addressed are at risk of isolating themselves. This behaviour can lead to depression and even accelerate cognitive decline. There are two basic sources of sound:
June 2025
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
High noise levels increase stress, fatigue, and miscommunication
airborne and impact. Airborne examples are speech, music, loudspeakers, birdsong, and alarm tones. Impact examples are footsteps, moving furniture, slamming doors, plates clattering, and bin lids. All of which are likely to be occurring in a busy care home! Understanding the acoustic environment and taking measures to improve it will improve the wellbeing of residents. It will make for a more inclusive home. It will minimise the chance of frustration or disputes between residents over volume settings. It can improve the wellbeing of care teams, too – especially those with hearing loss. High noise levels increase stress, fatigue, and miscommunication, which can impact on employee retention and care quality.
The impact of room size and shape on sound quality
In a care home, the size and shape of a room can present unique acoustic challenges that impact comfort, communication, and overall functionality, whether it be the dining room, the living room, inhouse café, cinema room, foyer, or meeting space. Room acoustics play a pivotal role in shaping our experience within a space. Room size, shape, and construction can all exacerbate hearing issues. They affect how sound behaves, travels, and interacts with surfaces. Hard surfaces impact on the amount of reverberation in the room. Sound reflections off hard surfaces can create echoes, causing distractions and interfering with communication.
The size of a room determines the sound
waves travel time before they reflect back. While acoustic improvements benefit both large and small spaces, large rooms face more significant challenges because sound waves travel longer distances and interact
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