It’s hardly surprising that the environment we live in affects our sense of security and confidence. This can be especially true for people living with dementia, as the way they perceive the world around them changes.

Most of us spend our lives in homes that have meaning to us, so finding yourself in a large institutional setting when transitioning to residential care can be overwhelming and unsettling.

We know a new accommodation framework for residential care is coming and ‘cultivate a home’ is one of four design principles identified by the Federal Government to improve the experience for people with dementia in aged care. 

Domestic and familiar

When a space looks and feels as much like home as possible, the people in it develop a sense of belonging, and feel more relaxed and in control. To promote independence, fixtures and items should be recognisable – a kettle should look like a kettle, a tap like a tap – making it easier for a person with dementia to use them.

Furthermore, a room should look clearly like the space it is meant to be. A dining room should contain familiar items like tablecloths and cabinets with crockery. Having a visible kitchen area nearby, where residents can see and smell meals being prepared, reinforces the familiar routine of sitting down for a meal. We can encourage autonomy and a sense of purpose by making this space accessible, allowing residents to enter the kitchen to make a cup of tea or help with meal preparation if they wish.

Small in size and scale

If there are fewer people living in a space, it will feel more home-like. Research shows people with dementia living in larger, more institutional homes can feel a loss of dignity, experience anxiety, and have trouble with wayfinding and getting lost.

Rather, a home that is smaller in scale has been shown to improve wellbeing and quality of life. Continuing with the dining theme, ‘family-style’ dining – at small tables, having choice in what to eat and being involved in serving – encourages social engagement and improves nutritional intake.

Better spaces, better lives

By adopting a dementia-inclusive approach to design, you can create a world where people with dementia feel independent, reassured and secure.

Get in touch for an environmental audit or dementia service review by one of our expert dementia consultants today, and set yourself and your teams on the path to a fully dementia-enabling experience for the people in your care.