Glasgow Memory Clinic
Six ways to make your home more ‘dementia friendly’
Dementia Awareness Week 2018 runs from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th June – focusing this year on ‘making sure nobody faces dementia alone.’ It can be the little things that can make a big difference in the day-to-day life of a person with dementia. Dementia Awareness Week offers an ideal opportunity to let as many people as possible know about dementia and discover the best ways to support the ones you love.
Below, we have outlined six ways that you can make sure that the home is a safe place that is easy to navigate:
Place signs around the house
Signs on doors around the house can make it easier for a person to distinguish between different rooms. Also, adding signs on cupboards and drawers showing what’s inside makes it easier for a person to know what’s inside and find what they are looking for faster.
The correct lighting is important
Make sure that the curtains are open during the day and closed at night. This makes it easier for a person to know what time of the day it is. It’s also a good idea to make sure there is a bedside lamp to make it safer at night. Making the bedroom dark can also help a person to sleep better.
Prevent trips and falls
It’s so easy for a person to fall or trip so try to take measures to prevent this from happening. If possible, try and make all floors in the home a plain coloured matt flooring that contrasts with the walls. Remove or tape any rugs and mats down, check that cables aren’t a trip hazard and mark the edge of stairs with brightly coloured tape so that they are easily identifiable.
Organise the kitchen
The kitchen may be one of the scariest places for people with dementia so make it as easy as possible for them. Organise all the cupboards so that everything is easily recognisable. Put up instructions on how to use appliances (like ovens and microwaves). It’s also a good idea to buy brightly coloured crockery, towels and utensils so that they can be easily seen. This can also make it easier to see food on a plate.
Having a lot of clutter around the house can make it confusing to find things, be a trip hazard and can be a distraction. Remove any unused items from rooms and make sure that any paperwork and important items are stored in an obvious place. Try and return items to where they belong when they are finished with.
Add safety features
It can be worrying for the family when a loved one is living at home with dementia. That’s why it is incredibly important to make sure that the home is as safe as possible. Make sure the smoke detector is regularly checked. Lock away items that can be hazardous or sharp to avoid incidents. Installing grab rails, socket covers and reducing the water temperature can also prevent an accident.