Interior design


Dementia care: changing the visual environment


Trevor Gillman, CEO of David Bailey Furniture Systems, discusses how the thoughtful use of colour and other considerations can have a profound impact on resident wellbeing


Some industry estimates suggest that the current care home market in the UK is worth some £7.7 bn and is growing at an annual rate of 1.4 per cent. Other estimates suggest that it is twice that size, delivering a turnover of around £15 bn a year. That said, further growth is only expected to rise by a modest 1.0 per cent year on year until 2026. Whatever figure you choose, care homes


clearly play both a positive and major role in the UK economy, and it can be shown that the type and quality of care a person receives can significantly influence their well-being, health and lifespan. Against this background and the


continued threat of COVID-19, severe staff shortages, and an inflation rate in excess of 10 per cent, it is obvious that care homes wanting to deliver better growth figures will have to go that extra mile.


Dementia care in particular will continue to be challenging, with greater emphasis on wellbeing and better mental health for those with the condition. This particularly applies to the overall look and surroundings within care homes.


Thinking about colour Innovative use of colour is particularly important for care home owners wanting to make their properties more resident- friendly, with blue and green tones said to be the most calming, friendly, and relaxing colours for the mind. It has been reported that when these colour tones are introduced into a care environment, they can help to change a person’s emotions and even lower blood pressure. It has also been shown that the quality of the visual environment has a


May 2023 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


positive effect on residents’ wellbeing and can also affect staff performance. Furniture - and storage units in particular - have a job to do, which means that they can become tired and directly affect the look of a room, which is why they should be regularly replaced, especially in an environment which has large numbers of older people. It has been shown that visually attractive fitted furniture, worktops, and mobile units are more recognisable to those with dementia. Many of those living with dementia


experience difficulties with their sight and perception, which leads them to easily misinterpret their surroundings. In a world already fraught with confusion and uncertainty, any steps that can be taken to alleviate this should be embraced wholeheartedly. Using bright and contrasting colours for furniture and furnishings can help these to be


Innovative use of colour is particularly important for care home owners wanting to make their properties more resident-friendly


distinguished more easily. It is the detail that makes 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 residents 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. 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.


Promoting wellbeing 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 spaces are warm, positive, and well-designed, this can significantly


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