How many times have you walked into a senior living community and found bizarre, boring, or just plain unattractive artwork on the walls? I know that I have seen this time and time again. Many times, the artwork has almost no rhyme or reason, is hanging in a weird spot, and has a too-large, gold frame …
You just found out that a loved one has dementia. You know there’s a lot to learn and understand about dementia care: how best to communicate, what dementia is, where a person with dementia can live, and how to deal with the physical and behavioral challenges that you’ll be facing. But where do you start? …
Why are Life Stations so important in dementia care? The photo featured here is from Brookdale Burlington, in Burlington NC. This is one of the first Life Skills Stations that I ever designed. It is simple and fits well in an awkward space. The Baby Station featured here became an immediate hit with the residents! When …
How can you make a bathroom (called a “spa” in some communities) more relaxing and dementia-friendly? Rachael: Fights and bathing go hand-in-hand in dementia care. It’s one of the biggest challenges surrounding the care of a person with dementia. They don’t want to bathe, and you don’t know why. The good news is that most …
What is this space? Rachael: This is an interactive “word wall,” designed after something cool and similar I saw on Pinterest! There wasn’t much going on with this wall beforehand—it was just being used for pictures. I decided to frame it out and use magnetic paint to make it something fun! What materials did you …
What is this space? Rachael: This was (and still is) the Nurses’ Station. It’s probably the most important part of this Skilled Nursing Facility, but it also makes it look like a hospital. In order to make it more familiar, I wanted to turn it into something the residents would recognize and enjoy: an old-time …
What is this space? Amanda: A vanity station for use in an alcove or corridor near a spa or salon. What materials did you use? Amanda: We used an existing vanity and body form. We purchased jewelry and hat stands; scarves and hats of various bright colors; jewelry in varying textures, colors, and sizes. Why …
What is this space? Rachael: A space for art, both music and drawings or paintings What materials did you use? Rachael: The hardest part was finding a piano. After I got the piano moved in, the space really came together. I put up twine and small clothes pins for the art, and found wood at …
What is this space? Rachael: This is a welcome space that goes along with my “5 & Dime” area. The space is right outside the Nurses’ Station and features two brand new, red vinyl chairs. It also features a retro-looking CD player and tool collage. What materials did you use? Rachael: My favorite piece here …
What is this? Rachael: These are the red plates I ordered for one community where I consulted. These plates and bowls are thick plastic, so they don’t break, but they are bright red in color. Why does this space work well in dementia care? Rachael: The plates and bowls that they had before were an off-white …