How to Create a Dementia Friendly Home

Dementia is a progressive disease that causes several life-altering symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion and difficulty learning new things. Someone suffering from the disease may forget where they live, where things are and how things work, so making practical changes around the home can have a big impact on their day-to-day living.

Having to move from the comfort of their own home to a residential or nursing facility may put a lot of stress on someone dealing with dementia, so the goal is to keep them comfortable in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. Making big changes overnight might confuse them, but there are several simple things you can do to help your loved one live independently at home despite their diagnosis.

Today, we’ll explore how to create a dementia-friendly home for your loved one, including how to foster independence, practical tips on keeping them safe at home and how a live-in carer can help.

Getting a needs assessment

First things first, if your loved one hasn’t done so yet, you may want to get them a needs assessment from your local council. This is where a social worker or occupational therapist visits the home to see how your loved one is coping with daily living tasks. They may recommend a service to get your loved one specialist equipment or support, such as:

Equipment like a walking frame or personal alarm
Alterations to your home, such as a walk-in shower or grab bars
Practical help from a paid carer
Access to day centres or lunch clubs for seniors

The needs assessment is a free resource for anyone who needs it, so if you’re unsure of where to start when making your home dementia-friendly, it can be a good way to get tailored ideas and tips.

Making the outside of their home dementia friendly

People with dementia may forget what the exterior of their house looks like when returning after seeing loved ones, shopping or going for a walk. To avoid confusion and panic from not being able to find their front door, you could:

Avoid making significant changes to the exterior of their home, such as changing the door or cutting down shrubs.
Add a large door number that is easy to read.
Put an easily identifiable object where they can see it but can’t trip over it, such as their favourite garden ornament or colourful bunting in the window.

The outside of a home also comes with several hazards, so it’s a good idea to implement these safety measures:

Fit a sturdy handrail by the door if there’s a step leading up to the entrance, or convert it into a ramp.
Add a motion-sensor lamp near the doorway, and if the path is a longer distance from the road, add solar lights.
Install a video camera doorbell with your loved one’s consent to monitor who’s coming and going.
Secure a key safe in a safe location for loved ones and carers to access the property if your family member can’t get to the door.
Put a sticker on the door to deter cold calls and junk mail so your loved one doesn’t have to repeatedly get up to answer the door.
Make sure all pathways are free of debris and that grass is trimmed regularly to prevent tripping hazards.

Making the kitchen dementia friendly

The kitchen is where your loved one is likely to spend lots of time while they’re at home, but it can be full of hazards. You don’t want to stop them from going into the kitchen altogether, so changing the layout and optimising their cupboards could make it easier to use. You could:

Keep their most used mugs, cutlery, plates and bowls on the worktop instead of in a cupboard.
Replace the cupboard doors with clear glass, take them off altogether or stick pictures of things in each cupboard so your loved one can find what they’re looking for without opening every cupboard.
Clearly label the taps as hot and cold with waterproof stickers.
Regularly check the dates of food and throw anything away that’s expired.
Write simple instructions for appliances like the dishwasher, washing machine and coffee maker and keep them next to the appliance.
Stick a whiteboard on the wall for important household task reminders, such as locking the doors, taking the bins out and charging their phones.

The kitchen is one of the most hazardous areas of the home, so safety is paramount when making your loved one’s space dementia friendly. Here are some safety considerations to think about:

Store all medicines, cleaning products and batteries away in a locked cupboard.
Label everything very clearly and carefully, such as brightly-coloured washing tablets that could be mistaken for sweets.
Hang a heatproof glove on the oven so it’s easy to spot.
Keep heavy pots and pans somewhere easily accessible so your loved one doesn’t have to reach to pull them down.
Replace pans with metal handles with plastic alternatives.
Fit a gas valve limiter to a gas cooker that prevents the gas from being left on or switched on accidentally.
Use a flood prevention plug in the sink.

Making the living room dementia friendly

A living room is often our safe haven; somewhere we want to feel relaxed, happy and safe. Your loved one will most likely have decorated their living room exactly to their tastes, so making big changes may cause more upset than good. However, there are a few small differences that can make a huge difference in keeping your loved one comfortable in their most-used room:

Swap single pieces of furniture out for more comfortable and supportive alternatives, like a chair that can electronically rise, lower and tilt to help them stand up.
Put photos of family and friends up to help jog their memory and keep them grounded in the present.
Keep their most used items, such as glasses, remote controls, knitting and keys in an easily-accessible place like on a side table or basket organiser.
Swap their TV remote out for a larger, more accessibility-friendly universal remote with large, clearly labelled buttons.
Install a smart device like Amazon Alexa or Google Home and program it to listen to commands such as turn off the lights, play music, give reminders and sound the doorbell.

Making the bathroom dementia friendly

Similar to the kitchen, the bathroom can be full of hazards that put people with dementia in danger. Despite it being one of the smallest rooms in the whole house, your loved one may get confused or stressed due to several appliances in their bathroom. To make this room safer and easier to navigate, you could:

Leave the bathroom light on at night to help your loved one find it easily.
Install rails or handles around the bathroom to help them navigate the room and get in and out of the shower or bath without the risk of falling.
Remove bath and toilet mats, as these can be trip hazards and unsanitary when not washed regularly.
Fit a new toilet seat that’s a different colour to the toilet to make it more visible.
Replace the toilet roll holder with a freestanding alternative that’s easier to reach.
Buy brightly coloured towels and toilet paper to make them easier to see.
Use a bath or shower seat if your loved one struggles with mobility or balance.
Consider installing a wet room instead of a shower or bath that they have to step into, and use a flood prevention plug.

Making the bedroom dementia friendly

A bedroom is designed to be the most relaxing place in the house, and your loved one experiencing hazards and risks from within can impact their sleep. To keep the bedroom a safe space for someone with dementia, you may want to:

Remove clutter to prevent falls and make it easier for them to move around the room.
Use a movement or bed sensor to alert you if your loved one gets out of bed.
Fit a waterproof mattress cover if they have continence issues.
Make sure their bedding and pyjamas are comfortable and appropriate for the season to prevent them from getting too hot or cold during the night.
Place a night-light or touch-operated light near the bed so your loved one can operate it if they wake up in the middle of the night.
Choose an easy-to-read alarm clock so they know the time and whether they’re ready to get up for the day.
Swap clothes in the wardrobe on a seasonal basis so they can dress appropriately for the time of year.

Making hallways dementia friendly

When making a home dementia friendly, it’s not uncommon to forget the hallways as they’re not rooms we tend to think about much. However, since they’re essential for getting from room to room, it’s important to make sure they’re safe for your loved one, too. To do this, you could:

Make sure the hallway is free of clutter as much as possible.
Hang everything up to keep it within reach, including coats, umbrellas and keys.
Keep a clock near the door to help your loved one determine whether it’s time to go outside or not.
Use gripper tape to secure doormats or carpet runners to prevent them from becoming trip hazards.
Fit a door alarm to alert you of your loved one’s movements, provided you have their permission to do so.

Practical tips on fostering independence for loved ones with dementia

Living with dementia is often overwhelming, especially when the person affected feels like everything is slipping out of their control. Making it possible for them to remain at home rather than in an assisted living facility can give them a sense of independence.

Here are some ideas to make their home dementia friendly while also focusing on dignity and independence:

Good lighting throughout the home: Make sure natural light can get in the home with easy-to-use blinds or curtains, and consider motion-sensor lights or colouring the light switches to make them easy to see.
Check the floors: Remove any tripping hazards, including rugs, runners and mats, or use grip tape to stick all of the corners and edges to the floor. This lets your loved one get around the house independently without such a high risk of falling.
Make eating and drinking easier: Swap plates and cups for brightly-coloured alternatives that contrast food and drink. Prepare nutritious meals and snacks in clear containers and label them with what they are and expiry dates, so your loved one can choose what they want to eat without depending on someone else to cook it.
Brighten the home up: Dementia might affect how your loved one sees and differentiates between colours, so use bright and contrasting décor to help them see furniture better. Place a bright blanket over the back of their chair, keep their most important belongings on a vibrant mat next to their favourite chair and make sure things don’t blend in with each other.
Create a cheat sheet of where things are: Write a list of your loved one’s most useful items and where they’ll be able to find them. They can use this throughout the day to locate anything they need without having to call someone for help. Update the list as time goes on and try to make sure the most important items are always in the right place at the end of each day.
Consider extra safety equipment: Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure your loved one is alerted to any dangerous situations.
Involve them in all decisions: The best way to honour your loved one’s independence through difficult life changes is to keep them in charge of the alterations being made to their home and routine.

Using assistive technology to make a home dementia friendly

Some people find assistive technology and living aids to be extremely helpful when adjusting to life with dementia. This type of technology refers to equipment that is designed to help people with physical or cognitive disabilities complete daily activities easily and independently.

Here are a few examples of assistive technology that can help people with dementia live at home for longer:

Voice recognising technology like Amazon Alexa and smartphone apps
Universal remotes with large, clearly labelled buttons
Phones with big buttons and speed dial functionality
Rise and recline chairs
Dementia clocks with extra-large numbers or that speak the date, day and time
Screen readers
Smoke alarms and heat detectors
Mobility aids like stairlifts and grab rails
Kitchen equipment like jar opening tools, kettle tippers and adapted cutlery
Perching stools
Adjustable beds
Personal care aids, such as zip pulls, adaptive clothing and sock pull-ups
Toileting equipment like commodes and raised toilet seats

How Trinity Homecare can help

At Trinity Homecare, we’re committed to providing exceptional care to all our clients to help them stay in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. One of our carers will be carefully matched to your loved one to offer round-the-clock dementia care and support. Whether they’d prefer quick visits for more independence or require more extensive support from a live-in carer, we have experience and training in caring for clients with all stages of dementia.

The care we provide includes:

One-to-one support at home
Completely bespoke live-in care that has been tailored to you
Specialist care for a number of different circumstances
Home carers carefully matched to your needs
CQC rated ‘Outstanding’ live-in care services

Enlisting the help of one of our carers means that your loved one can get the support they need at home without a stressful move to a residential facility. They’re on-hand to help with personal care, medication, meal prep, companionship and more, so whatever you and your loved one require, Trinity Homecare can help.

Talk to us today

If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.

Call us on 020 4572 5583 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.