Advice

10 ways to make your home dementia friendly

For a person living with dementia, living at home can give you a sense of independence. By making some changes to your home, you are able to continue with the routines or activities you enjoy. Each of these changes can help you stay safe, active, and allow you to continue to enjoy your home.

Here are 10 ideas to make your home more dementia friendly. 

1. Make sure you’ve got good lighting

Check that natural light can get into your house ­– good lighting helps you see clearly and make sense of where you are. Make sure there’s nothing blocking light from coming in through the window. Also make sure your bedroom is dark enough at night, as this will help you sleep better.

2. Make sure your flooring is safe

Remove or tidy anything that could make you trip up, such as cables, loose floor mats or rugs. Make sure you can clearly see the edges of any steps too – you can do this by using paint or tape, or using stair edging called ‘nosing’.

Try to avoid flooring that’s shiny or that’s a similar colour to the walls, as it may confuse you.

3. Make eating and drinking easier

Eating and drinking well is important for your health. Use plates, cups and tablecloths with colours that contrast with food. Try using clear plastic containers to store your food, so you can see what’s inside.

Keep any household chemicals that could be mistaken for food or drink out of sight. Any laundry detergent, dishwasher tablets and bleaches should be in a closed or locked cupboard, away from food, drink or medicines. 

4. Get furniture that you can see clearly

Dementia may affect how well you can tell the difference between colours. Use bright and contrasting colours to help you see furniture better. Sofa covers can be a fairly inexpensive way to do this. Try to avoid stripes and strong patterns as they can be confusing.

5. Remind yourself where things are

If you have memory problems you may forget where things are kept. Put pictures or signs on cupboards and drawers so you know what’s inside them. Try to keep things like your keys, wallet and mobile phone in the same place.

6. Keep things simple in the bathroom

Put a picture and sign on the door labelling the toilet or bathroom. Consider removing the toilet lid if it makes it easier to identify. It’s also helpful to have towels and toilet rolls with colours that contrast the walls. Clear away items not used regularly.

7. Keep clutter-free

Untidiness around the home may make you feel confused and distracted. Get rid of any excess clutter and make sure cupboards and drawers are tidy. Turn off the TV or radio when you’re not watching or listening to them, so the noise isn’t confusing or distracting.

8. Use equipment to keep yourself safe

Use grab rails to hold onto and prevent yourself from falling. Installing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors can also help keep you safe. Sensors can help too. For example, they can detect whether the water has been left running or the temperature is too high or low.

9. Keep active and connected to others

Staying in touch with other people and keeping up with the things you enjoy can help you to stay independent and safe. These things are also great for your quality of life. 

Memory aids like a large-faced clock and a calendar to help you keep track of the day and time, and the different things you’re doing. Some people find a whiteboard helpful for writing down reminders.

10. Consider what technology could help

Technology can be helpful in many practical ways. For example, a video doorbell will allow you to see who is at the door before answering, and a virtual assistant like Alexa or Siri can help with keeping track of appointments. If you have a computer, tablet or smartphone, you can arrange shopping deliveries or manage your banking remotely.