Dementia: Creating the Right Environment for those with Dementia (Armando)
Environments for those with dementia become very important for the overall well-being
and success of each day. To create a secure and comfortable environment, follow
these four straightforward rules.
Simple is always better. One central gathering area for meals, activities, and
exercise is much better than three separate rooms in various locations for each
event.
Provide visual cues that are large, colorful and familiar. Caring communities
use large, colorful murals that relate to the framed art work down each corridor or
hallway to help guide residents. You can too, by color coordinating rooms with
graphics.
Create a safe and secure environment with freedom to move. We all need
room to roam. Create a safe zone indoors and outdoors for roaming by locking
the perimeter gates, but still allowing the doors to the yard to remain open or
unlocked. Prepare a protected environment for meandering safely by clearing
unnecessary clutter from walking paths to bathrooms, through hallways and
leading to outside patios.
Be consistent and predictable. Routine and consistency with meals, baths,
and bed time breed familiarity. Activity, appointments and “programming” should
be planned and carried out from morning to night in 30 to 60-minute increments
every day. Exercise and therapy, physical, occupational and emotional, all, as
much as possible should be led in the same location, meals at the same table
and other activities in the same location in the house or facility.
Dementia: Creating the Right Environment for those with Dementia (Armando)
Environments for those with dementia become very important for the overall well-being and success of each day. To create a secure and comfortable environment, follow these four straightforward rules.
Simple is always better. One central gathering area for meals, activities, and exercise is much better than three separate rooms in various locations for each event.
Provide visual cues that are large, colorful and familiar. Caring communities use large, colorful murals that relate to the framed art work down each corridor or hallway to help guide residents. You can too, by color coordinating rooms with graphics.
Create a safe and secure environment with freedom to move. We all need room to roam. Create a safe zone indoors and outdoors for roaming by locking the perimeter gates, but still allowing the doors to the yard to remain open or unlocked. Prepare a protected environment for meandering safely by clearing unnecessary clutter from walking paths to bathrooms, through hallways and leading to outside patios.
Be consistent and predictable. Routine and consistency with meals, baths, and bed time breed familiarity. Activity, appointments and “programming” should be planned and carried out from morning to night in 30 to 60-minute increments every day. Exercise and therapy, physical, occupational and emotional, all, as much as possible should be led in the same location, meals at the same table and other activities in the same location in the house or facility.