#55 - Creating a Dementia-Friendly Sanctuary: Practical Room-by-Room Modifications

We delve into creating dementia-friendly homes through thoughtful design and practical modifications that transform daily life for those with dementia. By reimagining living spaces with strategic tweaks rather than expensive remodels, we can create sanctuaries that boost safety, confidence, independence, and happiness.

• Universal principles include brighter lighting, contrasting colors, simplified navigation, and enhanced safety features
• Strategic tweaks like labels, pictures, and see-through cabinets help maintain independence
• Room-by-room modifications for entrances, living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways
• Technology solutions that serve rather than complicate
• Creating an emotional environment that celebrates achievements and maintains familiar routines
• Professional resources like occupational therapists can provide customized solutions
• Quick-fire checklist of immediate improvements anyone can implement today

For more tips, checklists and local resources, visit us at aginginplacedirectory.com.

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Chapters

• 1:05 Welcome and Introduction
• 1:58 Universal Principles for Dementia-Friendly Homes
• 5:08 Room-by-Room Modifications
• 8:53 Technology and Emotional Environment
• 10:29 Misconceptions and Quick-Fire Tips
• 12:33 Closing Thoughts and Resources

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:33

Hello and welcome to the Aging in Place Directory podcast, where we help you live safely, comfortably and independently right in your own home. I'm your host, robin Schiltz, and today's episode is both practical and close to the heart. We're delving into how to create a dementia-friendly home, whether for yourself, a spouse, a parent or anyone you care about who is living with dementia. Why does this matter? Excuse me, because a thoughtfully designed home can transform daily life for someone with dementia, boosting not just safety but confidence, independence and happiness. So today we'll blend expert tips, caregiver wisdom and a pinch of good-humored reality to help you reimagine any dwelling into a true sanctuary for aging in place. Let's start with big picture thinking. Dementia changes the way a person interacts with their environment. Simple tasks like finding the bathroom, making tea, getting dressed can all become tricky and sometimes even dangerous. But the good news is we don't need expensive remodels or futuristic tech to make a house more welcoming. Often small strategic tweaks are the key. Think of your home as a stage and the person as the star performer. We want to set the scene for comfort, clarity and safety, where the plot always unfolds as smoothly as possible. So let's break down some universal principles you can apply anywhere at home.

Speaker 1: 2:06

First is lighting the brighter the better. Let in as much natural light as possible. Pull back curtains. Trim hedges outside windows. Pull back curtains. Trim hedges outside windows. Supplement with bright, consistent and even artificial lighting, especially over stairs, in hallways and in the bathroom. Avoid shadows and glare. These can be confusing or unsettling. Night lights or motion sensors work wonders for late night wanderings. Next is colors and contrast. To help you see the difference, using contrasting colors for walls, floors, doors and household items. For example, a bright red mug on a white countertop makes it easier to spot something than a white mug on a white background. Avoid overly busy patterns. Avoid stripes and wavy designs in upholstery or rugs. These can cause confusion or even be perceived as moving patterns Yikes. And you want to paint key doors, like the bathroom, a distinctive, bold color.

Speaker 1: 3:14

Number three on the list is to simplify navigation. First, reduce clutter. Every item left lying around is both a tripping hazard and a potential source of confusion. Clear the walkways and minimize obstacles. Think wide funnels, not tight mazes. You want to store frequently used items like glasses, remotes or favorite snacks where they're visible and easy to reach. Next is labels and memory aids. You want to use labels and pictures on cabinets, drawers and doors yes, even the fridge or the closet. This can jog memory and build confidence, and using large print and simple icons are best. Next is safety first. Everywhere you want to anchor heavy furniture, remove or secure rugs and mats, as these can trip people up. Install grab bars near the toilet, shower and in hallways if needed. Consider child locks for cleaning supplies and knives, and eliminate locks on bathroom doors to prevent accidental lock-ins.

Speaker 1: 4:26

So now let's tour the home room by room, tackling each with creativity and a dash of empathy. Here's where the real magic and the real fun happens. First is entrances and exits. Make the front door distinctive with color, flowers or a sign to help with recognition and to give that Airbnb vibe in the best possible way. You want to consider level entryways and ramps for wheelchair or walker access, and you want to keep exit doors that should be off-limits, secure, while commonly used doors remain open and easy to find.

Speaker 1: 5:07

Moving into the living room, you want to remove tripping hazards like extra cords, wobbly stools or area rugs, especially those with patterns like we talked about before. Also, I would tell you to avoid black, because that can look to somebody who has not great vision like a hole in the floor and be very scary. You also want to arrange seating to support social interaction and rest and you want to use familiar, comfortable furniture and minimize room changes. New furniture arrangements can be disorienting. Display family photos and mementos to provide comfort and spark positive memories Moving into the kitchen.

Speaker 1: 5:51

Label cabinets with words or pictures Plates, cups, snacks. Better yet, try see-through cabinet doors for instant visibility. You want to keep dangerous items like knives and cleaning supplies stowed away and locked up. You want to use appliances with automatic shutoffs. Now I'm talking like the stovetop, the oven, your iron. Trust me, this is peace of mind in electrical form. You want to organize key ingredients and utensils at eye level and in the same spot every day and use contrasting plates and placemats to help define the edges of dishes. Talking about the dining area, you want to keep table settings simple, matching, uncluttered and with strong color contrast. Use spill-proof cups or weighted cutlery if needed for tremors. Use spill-proof cups or weighted cutlery if needed for tremors, and encourage independence and dignity, even if the result is a Picasso with peas and carrots Moving into the bedroom.

Speaker 1: 6:57

Blackout curtains or blinds will help with nighttime confusion and sleep quality, but night lights may aid those who find the dark unsettling. Keep the path to the bathroom clear and line it with motion sensor lights along the way. Encourage a regular sleep routine with familiar bedding, a consistent layout and favorite nighttime comforts. Put labels on drawers for socks, shirts and pajamas, as these can help maintain independence. Talking about the bathroom, non-slip mats and grab bars are essential, and they should be placed by the toilet, the bath and the shower. A raised toilet seat can make getting up and down easier. Consider a contrasting toilet seat cover to make the toilet clearly visible against white or pale fixtures. Remove door locks, just in case, and replace glass with shatterproof options. In the hallway and stairs you want to install sturdy railings, double railings if possible on all stairs. You want bright, even lighting, no spooky shadows or sudden glares. You want to mark stair edges with a contrasting tape or paint for extra visibility and consider installing a safety gate if stairs pose a risk for you or your loved one.

Speaker 1: 8:21

Next, let's talk about technology and assistive devices. Technology can be a game changer, but it should always serve, not complicate. Here are some practical options Again motion sensor lights for night navigation, door alarms to prevent wandering, medication dispensers with reminders, video doorbells or cameras for family monitoring and peace of mind, and smart speakers for reminders, such as Alexa, remind dad to drink water at 2 pm. Remember test thoroughly and keep it as simple as possible. Sometimes simpler, low-tech solutions are best.

Speaker 1: 9:05

Part four the emotional environment. Modern life is about more than physical space. The emotional climate matters just as much. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small you wore. Matching socks, yay, gold medal. Foster favorite hobbies in a safe way A music corner, a nook for puzzles, a garden for gentle digging. Encourage connection. Arrange phone calls, video chats or safe in-person visits with friends and loved ones. Remember to have familiar scents available, like lavender, cinnamon rolls, freshly brewed coffee, because they can be powerful mood boosters. Keep routines predictable.

Speaker 1: 9:50

Consistency is key for people living with dementia. Part five is when to seek professional help. Don't go it alone. Occupational therapists can do a walkthrough of your home, suggest custom solutions and train caregivers in creating a truly dementia supportive environment. Get a needs assessment through your health care provider or local area agency on aging council, especially if your loved one would benefit from mobility aids, remodeling or extra care resources.

Speaker 1: 10:26

So now let's tackle a few common misconceptions. My parent is still pretty sharp. Do we really need these changes, making the home safer and easier to navigate, especially in the early stages, preserves independence longer and can ease the transition as needs change. Well, if we add grab bars, won't that make the house look like a hospital? Well, today's support products come in stylish, sleek designs. Safety can absolutely meet style and your interior decorator will approve.

Speaker 1: 10:59

Well, smart home technology is only for techie people? Well, not really. Many devices are as simple as plug and play. Nothing beats a coffee maker that won't stay on all night. So quick fire tips. Do this today To bring it all home. Here's a rapid fire checklist for instant improvements Clear clutter from floors and hallways.

Speaker 1: 11:23

Label the bathroom door. Put away cleaning products and knives and lock them up. Add a lamp to any shadowy corners. Print family photos for easy smiles. Move favorite items into sight, which minimizes the frustrating searching. Place a chair by the front door for putting on shoes. Remove door locks on bathrooms and bedrooms. Install a nightlight along the route from the bed to the bathroom.

Speaker 1: 11:56

So, in closing, a dementia-friendly home is, at its heart, a kind home. It's a place where patience, humor and love light the way. There's no such thing as a perfect setup, just a space that feels safe, nurturing and uniquely. You Remember, adaptability is the name of the game. What works one day might need tweaking the next, and that's okay. Each small thoughtful change adds up to greater joy, dignity and comfort. For more tips, checklists and local resources, visit us at aginginplacedirectorycom and if you have your own stories, send them in to us. We would love to hear from you. So again, thanks for listening and here's to making every home a haven at every stage of life, until the next podcast episode. Thanks for listening, Take care. Bye.