Murals


Using murals in care homes: how to get it right


Although murals in care homes can have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing, using unsuitable images can have a negative effect, particularly on people living with dementia, as Sally Knocker, consultant trainer with Meaningful Care Matters, explains


Many years ago, I worked in a care home in Kensington and Chelsea in London. I remember that the houses for people living with dementia were named after famous streets and squares in the area. The ideas seemed to make sense in terms of familiarity. However, one woman living with dementia saw the large fake ‘Sloane Square’ street sign near the door of the home area, and looked both perplexed and annoyed: “If this is Sloane Square, then I will eat my hat!” More recently, a lively mural of a village


street scene, including a horse and cart and a variety of Victorian-era images, was installed in a Butterfly-accredited home.1 I liked it because there were children playing and a few dogs in the picture, and I thought it would cheer up a very long, bland-looking hallway. However, when going to check it out, a man living in the home smiled wryly at me and said: “Do they really think we are that old?!” People living with dementia are not stupid! This may seem like such an obvious statement, but it is important when considering the choice of murals that we do not patronise or confuse people. Many people have strong views on this topic, but I am comfortably ‘on the fence’ in the sense that I have seen some wonderful large murals in Butterfly homes which have brought lots of happiness and conversation, but I have also seen some ill-thought-out artwork which has done the opposite and just does not make sense or add any joy to people.


Location, location, location


In an interesting feature by Sue Learner2 there were some important critiques of the trend for large murals. Anna Park, care consultant, said: “I understand the idea of bringing reminiscence therapy to life with colourful, nostalgic murals, but I think the scale, design, and permanence of them


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Through the ‘window’ at St Brendan’s CNU, Loughrea, Ireland


Nature scenes are likely to promote wellbeing for most people


aren’t always dementia friendly, with many commercial companies jumping on the bandwagon without an understanding of the main principles of good dementia design.” A quick internet search reveals lots of companies who are providing what are described as ‘dementia friendly’ murals. One of the murals shared in this feature was of a huge aeroplane mural across a whole wall in the dining room of one care home. What is striking with this example is that it had no relationship with food or mealtimes. One of the important principles of design in the Butterfly Approach is to have images which relate to the function of the room and are therefore helpful in terms of orientation. Wendy Mitchell, the late writer and dementia activist, agreed: “As a navigation tool to indicate the function of


a room they have some purpose, but they must be contextually relevant and not add to a sense of bewilderment.”


Local themes using local talent Some of the best murals I have seen in care homes have involved local artists coming in to create bespoke art which involves talking to the people living and working in the home, so that what is created is relevant and relates to the interests and backgrounds of the people living there. Involvement of the people whose home it is seems obvious, but is often overlooked.3


In one of our Irish


Butterfly homes in St Brendan’s CNU in Co. Galway, artist Anita Boyle created some beautiful murals of the lake and other landmarks in the area as well as a café façade and smaller features such as vases with roses, an old radio etc. St Brendan’s has also involved a group of St Brigid’s art & design students along with their teacher Siobhan Treacy to create a mural with interactive and sensory elements including lights which go on


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com May 2024


Anita Boyle, artist


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