For care home facilities with residents living with dementia, designing any room to be safe, practical, and comfortable can present some difficulties. Indeed, for care homes, many of the issues revolve around creating spaces that can be considered dementia-friendly.
This is where healthcare furniture, and specifically Renray’s Dementia Care Home Furniture, comes into the conversation. By definition, this furniture is designed to provide homes with a safe interior that helps individuals with dementia to feel at ease, maintain some independence, and, ultimately, improve their well-being.
What is dementia-friendly furniture & how does it help your residents?
Examples of these products can be found in a wide range of furniture types.
For instance, as dementia causes memory loss or impaired vision, bedroom furniture that has perspex panels or open viewing sections aide their functionality by allowing them to find their belongings i.e. clothes can be hung ready for the next day.
Memory boxes hung outside the resident’s bedroom can cue information or stimulate memories.
Residents with dementia may also experience reduced mobility, therefore, getting in and out of a chair or bed can be a struggle. Products that offer flexible support such as Recliner Chairs and profiling beds can be a great solution here, allowing them to sit or lie in a comfortable, well-supported position, and to sit down and stand up safely.
The importance of these products being dementia-friendly cannot be overstated. Having the right furniture makes your home liveable and calm, whilst also catering to the varying levels of support required by the resident with dementia.
Dementia-friendly room design
A dementia-friendly environment is one that has been carefully designed to limit barriers to daily life. Therefore, the key design features and principals for your care home facilities should be as follows:
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Safety
Of course, the number one priority when designing spaces for dementia patients is minimising risk. This can be done in numerous ways, such as by fitting non-slip vinyl flooring, fold-away mirrors, and soft-surface furnishings.
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Visibility
To avoid confusion, furniture should display its purpose clearly. Wardrobes should either be open or clear fronted, whereas items such as desks should be organised and offer space for activities. As residents with dementia often have trouble seeing dimensions, furniture should have contrasting colour-scheme to the walls to prevent individuals from walking into them.
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Reassurance
Rooms and spaces need to offer a calming atmosphere for individuals with dementia. This means offering practical furniture that isn’t going to present difficulties on a daily basis. It also covers aesthetics – as long-term memory remains intact from dementia, traditional design styles are the best option, as they can support a resident’s well-being greatly.
For more information on our Dementia Friendly Solutions visit our website or you can Contact Us directly for any further help or advice.