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 …
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 …
Elopements are a big concern in dementia care communities. For so many residents, their entire life revolves around ‘going home’. They see family members leave through the exits, and the fact that they can’t follow them or get to the other side is disheartening and stressful. It reminds them they have lost their independence. So …
Paint colors can do a lot for residents and staff in dementia care communities. From the ambiance to functional use, paint can make them a happier and safer place. Functional: Painting exit doors the same color as the adjacent walls can help avoid elopement. If the door is subtle and not a focal point, residents may look …
While I don’t believe in “reorienting” people with dementia (and no one should) there is something to be said for using big calendars in dementia care communities. We don’t want to try and bring people with dementia into our reality, but it’s a great idea to let them know what’s going on that day, or …
Floor plants are a constant struggle in senior living communities. They’re over-used, often shoved into every possible nook and cranny. They are difficult to keep clean and free from dust. And in memory care, they provide a whole new set of problems. I remember the first time I was told that floor plants should never …
Aromatherapy is a term that is thrown around a lot lately with the growing popularity of essential oils and all-natural remedies, but the idea of aromatherapy goes back centuries. The Egyptians used aromatic oils for religious purposes and for their antibiotic properties, and Hippocrates was known to take aromatic baths for his health. The amazing …
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? …