If someone you love has recently been diagnosed with dementia, they may now be moving into a memory care unit and how you decorate their room can impact their stay significantly.
Those diagnosed with dementia prosper in familiar environments so moving to an unknown place can be a very daunting task. It’s important to remember that your loved one will find great comfort in things that they recognize.
This is why carefully designing their room is a vital task to allow them to feel safe and secure.
Dementia is a cruel illness that steals the cognitive abilities of those affected which makes participating in activities such as daily living, social mixing, and pursuing interests substantially difficult.
Because this illness makes individuals very dependent care options, such as moving into care units, can become essential. Over 50 million people struggle with dementia, and this number is only on the increase.
This is why it is so important to try and allow seniors living with dementia to have as much support and independence as possible; this can start with supported environments such as a specifically designed memory care unit.
What Facilities And Extras Are Included In Memory Care Rooms
It’s important to note that these rooms are designed with the specific purpose to try and facilitate your loved one, and make day-to-day life as easy as possible for them.
Seniors that have dementia are often much more likely to wander around, often confused about what they are doing, so these rooms will have alarmed elevators and doors that require codes to function.
This is to protect their safety. Often there will also be enclosures around all outdoor spaces to ensure that they can not wander off on their own.
Most care facilities will always be clean and pleasant for those living in them. The hallways also tend to be circular so that patients do not get severely frustrated with meeting dead ends.
The individual’s bedroom door will also have many brightly colored words and pictures to help differentiate their own room and find their way around with more ease.
The facility itself will often be very secure and structured, but each individual room can be designed to suit them personally – the more creative the better.
You want the space to encourage a sense of self and have a balance between enough privacy and preservation of friendships and relationships.
The most successful memory room will compensate for memory loss while also encouraging social engagement. Next, I will discuss just exactly how you can achieve this.
Tips For Creating The Most Successful Memory Room
Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is really important for those with dementia so where you can always try to optimise natural light by opening up any curtains, trimming any foliage by windows,and getting rid of any unneeded screens or blinds.
You ideally want to try and eradicate any shadows from the room. This is all so important because not only does it not help with the older person’s poorer vision.
But shadows can cause panic in those with dementia as it can trigger them to ‘see’ things that aren’t actually there. Keeping the room light and open should help limit this from happening.
Contrasting Colors
When a person struggles with dementia, it is easiest for them to navigate around areas that are decorated with contrasting colors. So when you are furnishing their room, always opt for solid, block colors that are easily distinguishable from the walls.
You’ll want any couches to be positioned in front of their window instead of the television screen.
If you’re hanging towels up in their bathroom, you should also try to make sure these colors stand out against the walls and the floor. This is the same for bed linens and drapes or curtains.
Dementia patients suffer great memory loss. This in turn can also affect their awareness of space and sometimes they can seem in their mind as nothing more than giant holes in the ground.
Rugs are not always a great option as they can also be an unnecessary trip hazard. When it comes to carpets, try to keep away from colors such as blue and green as patients can believe this to be water or grass which can panic them.
As a dementia patient’s memory deteriorates they can even begin to forget what they look like themselves. Avoid hanging mirrors around the room as this can startle and scare them.
Add Sentimental Decor
You want to try and fill the room with as many personal items as possible that are significantly sentimental to the patient.
Creating a sense of identity is really important for dementia patients so ensure their room is filled with things they have loved throughout their life.
It is always a good idea to create memory boxes that can be filled with photos and items that may spark old memories.
These can be used inside and outside of the room, to help them recognize which room is theirs and to also encourage a sense of comfort on the inside.
Create A Therapeutic Space
Through the use of things like soft fabrics and cuddly toys, soft and calming lighting and soothing images on the wall, your loved ones room can become a therapeutic haven for them.
While the bedroom decor cannot stop the progress of dementia, it can add extra security and comfort to those affected. Personalizing the room can help the patient continue experiencing meaning and purpose.
Final Thoughts
Dementia is potentially one of the cruellest illnesses and if you or a family member are ever struggling there are a plethora of charities that I encourage you to reach out to.
But in a time where all can feel lost, it’s really important to try and make those affected to feel as safe and independent as is still possible.
Creating a memory room which is optimally designed for those suffering can really help boost their sense of self and identity, so it is definitely worth trying.
