Original post on rachaelwonderlin.com How do you know if an activity or program you’re doing with a loved one or client living with dementia is working? You won’t know from the end result. Instead, look to the process itself. For example, when I was a Dementia Care Director, I often painted with my residents. I’d set …
26 pages that break down how to BEST design for dementia care. Perfect for senior living professionals who want to take their understanding of Designing for Dementia to the next level.
We talk a lot on this blog about how to design communities from square one and some bigger projects to tackle. But today, we’re going to give you some tips on things you can do today to make your community more comfortable and cozy. Why is ‘coziness’ important? When you say the word ‘cozy’, does …
We’ve had a number of residents over the years who believe that they are “on a cruise ship” when they are actually living in a dementia care community. When you think about it, it really isn’t that surprising: care communities are often made up of long, thin hallways with windows and doors, much like a …
I am very lucky that when I started my career in senior living design, I was surrounded by people who had worked in the industry for a long time, and who were happy to teach me the ins and outs of dementia communities. There were lots of random little things they taught me, like how …
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 …
We addressed this briefly in an earlier post last year, but I think it’s worth bringing up again. Many senior living communities will feature one room as the main “activity” space. Unfortunately, this “activity” space is also where everyone eats, watches TV, naps, and engages with the staff. What will often happen is that the …
This month, Netflix debuted “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” and I, like much of America, binge-watched the whole 8-episode season. How do you not? She’s a tiny dynamo full of optimism, paitence, and love for messes. I had read Marie’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” several years …
Seriously—no one wants to walk into a dementia care unit where residents are seated around a television. And, unfortunately, we’ve all encountered this before. No one is actually watching the TV, and it’s clear that they were “put” there in order to pass the time. Let’s work on designing a community that’s centered around activities …
Working in dementia care communities, you come across a number of erroneous, but often repeated, statements about dementia. We’ve both heard the following a number of times, and it’s interesting that, while they continue to be wrong, these myths live on. You can’t use any breakable decor in dementia care. First, let’s define “breakable”: not …