Organizing A Bedroom To Support Dementia Patients' Wellbeing

Organizing a bedroom for someone with dementia can be a challenging task, but it is important to create a safe, comfortable, and familiar environment that promotes independence and reduces stress. Here are some tips to achieve this:

- Ensure good lighting: Maximize natural light during the day by keeping windows unobstructed and clean. Use table lamps or wall-mounted lights instead of harsh overhead lighting, and maintain a well-lit environment at night to aid navigation and prevent falls.

- Reduce clutter: Keep the bedroom tidy and free from unnecessary items to minimize confusion and create clear, uncluttered spaces.

- Utilize labels and signs: Place signs or labels on cupboards, drawers, and doors to help the person with dementia easily identify the contents and navigate their space.

- Adopt a routine: Establish a daily routine and care plan, displayed on a whiteboard, to provide structure and a sense of security.

- Provide familiar items: Include personal items such as framed photos, mementos, and familiar scents to create a sense of familiarity and help the person feel connected to their past.

- Choose calm colors: Opt for soft, calming colors like pale yellow, blue, and brown for the bedroom walls to create a relaxing atmosphere and avoid overstimulation.

- Ensure contrast: Use contrasting colors for items such as bedding, linens, and towels to make them more distinguishable against their surroundings.

- Consider a commode: If the person has difficulty reaching the bathroom, a commode can be useful and provide added convenience.

- Personalize the space: Create a memory box or shadow box with meaningful mementos outside the bedroom to help identify the room and trigger positive memories.

- Enhance safety: Remove trip hazards like rugs and cables, and consider installing grab rails for added support.

Use labels and signs to help the person navigate their home

Using labels and signs is an effective way to help a person with dementia navigate their home. This technique can reduce anxiety and confusion for the patient.

Labelling System

Signs and labels are essential when caring for a person with dementia. Placing signs around the house helps them navigate their surroundings. You can label cabinets where essential items are stored, helping them locate items quickly without causing frustration.

Dosage Reminders

Label medications with reminders of the required dosage and when to take them.

Navigating the House

Use signs to help the person navigate their way around the house. For example, put a picture and a sign on the door labelling the toilet or bathroom.

Location

Store commonly used items in the same spot, clearly in sight. For example, always keep keys, glasses, mail, etc. in a designated area.

Colour Contrast

Use labels with colourful photo images, cards, or Post-it notes. For example, if the basin is white, put colourful stickers on it to help the person see it.

Make the bedroom safe by removing trip hazards and improving lighting

Making a bedroom safe for someone with dementia involves removing trip hazards and improving lighting to reduce the risk of falling. Here are some ways to achieve this:

Improving Lighting

Good lighting is essential for people with dementia, who may already have difficulties with their vision. Aim for twice the recommended level of lighting in the bedroom. Natural light is ideal, so ensure the room has large windows that let in plenty of daylight. Keep the windows clean, and close drapes at night to avoid reflections and indicate that it's nighttime. During the day, keep window coverings open to maximise natural light, and only close them if necessary to complete daily routines.

In addition to natural light, use "home-style" lighting, such as table lamps or wall-mounted lights, instead of large overhead lights, which can be disorienting. Consider motion-activated night lights or lamps to help your loved one get around safely at night. Avoid shiny or reflective surfaces on floors or tabletops, as they can create shadows and glare, causing confusion.

Removing Trip Hazards

Remove all potential tripping hazards, such as clutter, cables, wires, and rugs. Tape down or remove area rugs and mats, especially if they are dark-coloured, as these can be mistaken for holes in the floor. Opt for light-coloured, non-patterned floor coverings that are well-secured and non-slip. Keep the bedroom floor clear and uncluttered to reduce the risk of falls and minimise confusion.

Reduce clutter to avoid confusion

Keeping the bedroom of a person with dementia free of clutter is essential to reducing confusion and helping them navigate their space. Clutter can be confusing and overwhelming for people with dementia, impacting their ability to focus and causing anxiety.

To reduce clutter, it is important to establish designated areas for frequently used items, such as keys, glasses, and mail. This helps the person with dementia locate their belongings easily and reduces frustration. It is also beneficial to use labels and signs to indicate the contents of drawers and cupboards. This way, the person can quickly find what they need without having to search through multiple locations.

Additionally, it is advisable to keep the bedroom well-lit, using natural light during the day and soft illumination from table or wall-mounted lamps at night. Good lighting improves visibility and helps the person with dementia see and find their belongings more easily.

To further reduce clutter and improve organisation, consider using storage solutions such as baskets, bins, or shelves. Label these storage areas clearly and keep frequently used items within easy reach. It is also helpful to establish a routine and stick to it, as consistency can provide a sense of security and comfort for the person with dementia.

By reducing clutter and creating a well-organised bedroom, you can enhance the quality of life for the person with dementia, promoting independence, safety, and a sense of calm in their environment.

Make the bed easily identifiable with contrasting colours

Making the bed easily identifiable with contrasting colours is a great way to help people with dementia find their way around their bedroom. This is because people with dementia may struggle to locate their bed, so it should be easily visible from as many locations as possible, including the toilet area.

To make the bed stand out, use bedding and linens in solid colours that contrast with the colour of the carpet. For example, if you have a grey carpet, use white or light-coloured bedding. Avoid busy patterns and opt for traditional, recognisable designs instead. You can also use raised, rounded edges on the bed frame to make it more noticeable.

Additionally, ensure the bed is accessible from both sides and consider using a height-adjustable bed to make it easier for your loved one to get in and out of bed safely.

Use night lights or motion-activated lamps to aid visibility at night

Night lights or motion-activated lamps are essential in a bedroom for someone with dementia. They help the person with dementia navigate the room safely at night, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Here are some tips for using night lights and motion-activated lamps in the bedroom:

• Use night lights: Install night lights along the path from the bed to the bathroom to provide a clear and well-lit path. This is especially important if the person with dementia needs to get up during the night. Night lights can also be placed in other areas of the bedroom, such as near closets or dressers, to help with navigation.
• Motion-activated lamps: Consider using motion-activated lamps, which turn on automatically when movement is detected. These can be placed near the bed, in the bathroom, or in other areas of the bedroom to provide light when needed without the person having to remember to turn on a switch.
• Lighting brightness: Ensure that the night lights or motion-activated lamps provide sufficient lighting. People with dementia may have reduced vision, so the lighting should be bright enough to allow them to see clearly.
• Colour temperature: Opt for warm-toned lights that create a calming atmosphere. Avoid cool-toned lights, as they can be stimulating and make it harder for the person with dementia to fall asleep.
• Automatic timers: Set the night lights or motion-activated lamps on automatic timers if possible. This ensures that the lights turn on and off at specific times, helping to maintain a healthy sleep schedule and reducing confusion.
• Contrast with the surroundings: Choose night lights or lamp shades that contrast with the wall colour. This makes them more noticeable and easier for the person with dementia to locate.
• Natural light during the day: During the day, maximise natural light in the bedroom by opening curtains or blinds. This can help regulate the person's sleep-wake cycle and improve overall well-being.
• Minimize glare and reflections: Avoid shiny or reflective surfaces in the bedroom, as they can create glare and reflections that may be confusing or disorienting for the person with dementia.

Frequently asked questions