Setting Up a Safe Home Environment for Someone With Dementia | Qualicare

More than 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization. When a person has dementia, it doesn’t just impact him or her—it also impacts the family.

We recognize that, which is why our Qualicare team wants to make life a little easier with some tips on how to set up your home for comfort and safety when your loved one has dementia. Read on for a few suggestions.

Clear the Clutter

While removing clutter from the home is a good idea for everyone, it’s a safety precaution when there’s someone with dementia living in the home.

Clutter can increase fall risk, since it often takes up space on the floor, limiting the ability to walk around normally.

Having unnecessary items out in front of your loved one with dementia can also make things confusing for him or her. Clear away the items that your loved one does not need on a daily basis so that he or she can focus on a few things, such as the remote control or reading glasses.

Be Color-friendly

Patterns can make it harder for those with dementia to focus. Therefore, try to keep the use of patterns to a minimum, and use contrasting colors instead.

For instance, paint the bathroom door a different color so that he or she knows that is the bathroom. Or use a red plate on a white placemat so that he or she can see the plate and the food better.

Incorporate Signs

While coloring the doors different colors can help someone with dementia, so might adding signage around the home.

When a person suffers from dementia, he or she may not remember where certain rooms are located, even before dementia becomes advanced. That’s when signs can be helpful.

Keep the signage simple. Use one-word signs for each of the rooms, such as “Kitchen” or “Food” for the kitchen and “Bedroom” or “Sleep” for the bedroom.

At Qualicare, our in-home care providers understand the difficulties and daily struggles associated with dementia. Visit our website today to learn how we can help.