Why is a dementia-friendly environment important?

The physical environment is important for someone with dementia. It can help them to stay:

• safe
• comfortable
• independent

Making changes to your living space can help a person with dementia to:

• remember things
• orient themselves
• manage their mobility
• participate in and enjoy everyday activities

How can I create a calm and safe environment?

There are certain changes you can make to your environment to make it more dementia-friendly.

These changes are often very simple. However, it's important to remember that dementia affects everyone in different ways.

You should only make changes that help with the person's individual challenges. Making changes that aren't needed may make them more confused.

Supportive aids

Supportive aids are technology or devices that can help someone with dementia to be independent. They also reduce a person's chance of having an accident so they can be at home for longer.

They can include both simple equipment and complex technologies. Some supportive aids to consider are:

• medication reminders and blister packs
• phone reminders, alarms and audio messages
• item finders (alarms attached to items such as keys)
• aids like walking sticks to help with a person's mobility
• sensory and therapeutic supports, such as dolls or mechanical pets
• monitoring systems that use satellite positioning to find someone if they get lost

They can also include dementia-friendly versions of regular items, like:

• touch lamps
• automatic lighting
• digital photo books to exercise a person's memory

How can I make indoor environments calming?

A soothing, calming atmosphere is helpful for everybody. For a person with dementia, the ideal environment should help them relax and reminisce on happy memories.

There are many things you can consider in indoor environments.

Don't use lots of colours and patterns as this can be confusing. You may need to remove patterned wallpaper or curtains to make a space dementia-friendly.

Many people with dementia find noise annoying. You might need to turn the television and radio off more often. This can help the person focus on other things like eating.

You should also consider lighting and mirrors inside. Try to prevent shadows, glare and reflections that a person with dementia may find frightening.

You can reduce a person's chance of falls by:

• making sure the floors are not slippery
• avoiding loose carpets and other trip hazards like clutter
• making sure the house is well-lit
• keeping in mind that some people with dementia use furnishings for support to help them balance and get around

Make sure that there are clear walking paths through each room.

Some other safety tips to consider include:

• checking locks, floors, doors, windows, and stairs to see if they need changing
• making sure that the home's heating, cooling, lighting, electricity and gas systems are safe and easy to use
• ensuring that electrical connections and cords are away from water and heating sources
• putting signs on taps to show which is hot and which is cold
• putting covers on power points
• installing sensor lights or lights with built-in timers if the person wanders at night
• installing handrails on both sides of stairs

It is also important to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. People with dementia might not be able to judge the temperature themselves. They might also forget how to adjust their clothes if they are too hot or too cold.

You can make things easier to find by:

• labelling objects, containers, appliances and cupboards
• choosing see-through cupboards, if possible
• making doorknobs a different colour to help a person stay oriented
• using coloured tape on objects

Group similar things together and label objects, especially if you change or rearrange things around the house.

Safety

If a person with dementia can no longer use certain things safely, it is best to store them securely. This might include:

• sharp items like scissors and knives
• poisons and cleaning products
• medication

As well as the above, there are certain things to consider in different parts of the house.

Kitchens

Kitchens should be safe and allow the person to use it as independently as possible for as long as possible.

Try to keep everything familiar. Keep commonly used items on the bench.

If an appliance needs replacing, try to get the same make and model if it's safe to do so. Appliances with built-in safety features, such as a kettle with an automatic cut-off switch, are a good idea.

If the person can no longer use the kitchen safely, there are changes you can make. You may need to install devices that turn off the stove or other appliances automatically.

Reduce the temperature of water from the hot water tap. You can do this by installing an ‘anti-scald device'.

To help your person find support and keep track of things, you can:

• keep a list of contact names and numbers in large print by the telephone
• use a clock that shows date, day and time of day
• put a whiteboard of daily tasks somewhere obvious

Living rooms

Living rooms are a good place to help a person relax and reminisce.

It's important to have a sturdy and comfortable chair. The person with dementia should be able to easily get in and out of their chair. It should also be easy and safe for others to lift the person in and out of the chair. Ideally, the chair should be waterproof in case of incontinence.

You should also:

• cover sharp edges
• remove low furniture and protruding furniture that are easy to trip over
• remove any unstable furniture, such as rocking chairs or chairs on wheels

Bedrooms

Bedrooms should be set up as a space for resting and dressing. A person's bedroom should be familiar and set up to help them to sleep there for as long as possible.

A person with dementia should be supported to get in and out of their own bed. For this, you might need to adjust the bed height. Using different colours for inner and outer bedsheets can help.

Consider installing curtains that block the light, to help regulate a person's sleeping patterns. If you want to use lights to make it easy to find the toilet at night, try soft night lights.

If possible, set a person's bedroom up away from noises like traffic.

Make sure the person's clothes are accessible so they can choose what to wear and dress themselves. This can help them feel independent.

Bathrooms

Changes can be made to bathrooms and toilets for safety and to help the person be independent.

You can help keep the bathroom safe by:

• installing grab rails by the bath or a shower chair
• using non-slip rubber mats
• ensuring that doors can be unlocked from the outside, so the person with dementia cannot lock themself in

Personal comfort is also important. You might consider installing safe heat lamps in the bathroom to make it more comfortable in winter.

Adding a handheld shower hose can help a person wash themselves.

It's important to respect the person's privacy as much as possible.

Laundry

Laundries should be as simple and as familiar as possible.

The laundry floor should have enough drainage to prevent flooding.

If possible, keep ironing boards and washing baskets out so they can be easily accessed. This can remind the person to do household activities and encourage them to practice their skills.

If there are pets in the house, install a pet flap or door in the laundry. That way, they don't have to remember to let animals in or out.

How can I make outdoor environments calming and helpful?

Outdoor areas should also be relaxing and safe for a person with dementia to walk around in. They can provide an opportunity to do activities, as well as relax. Backyards should include places to sit in the shade or the sun.

Installing a raised garden bed can be helpful, such as a vegetable garden. A person can plant and tend to what they grow in a garden.

Planting seasonal plants can help a person recognise the time of year. It can also help attract birds and butterflies. Make sure that there aren't any poisonous or spiky plants in the garden.

You can keep garden tools like brooms and trowels somewhere obvious. This way, they can use them for gardening activities.

You can keep outdoor areas safe by:

• checking that backyard paths aren't uneven, slippery or a tripping hazard
• sweeping outdoor areas regularly and remove hazards
• removing any overhanging tree branches
• hiding garbage or compost bins
• storing dangerous objects securely in a shed or garage
• checking that verandas and balconies are safe

You can hide fences behind plants to make a person with dementia feel more comfortable.

How can a dementia-friendly environment support memory?

Memory loss is common in people with dementia and it can be distressing. There are ways you can assist someone to remember things and find their way around.

Think about what types of things the person with dementia usually forgets. This will help you decide what memory aids to use.

To help a person remember daily tasks and reminisce on their past, you can:

• label objects and locations if a person tends to forget them
• use a noticeboard or place sticky notes around, such as on the fridge
• place common objects in the same spot every day
• place photos and familiar objects around the home

Use easy-to-read clocks or large calendars around the house to help them stay connected with the present.

Resources and support

For more information on adapting your home for someone with dementia, you can:

• visit the Dementia Australia website for help sheets on commonly raised issues in preparing a dementia-friendly environment
• visit the Dementia Enabling Environments website for information on orientation and wayfinding
• read the Alzheimer's WA booklet on Adapting your home

You can call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.

Or call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.