For the person diagnosed, as well as their family and caregivers, living with Alzheimer’s or other kinds of dementia can be difficult. Making a home dementia-friendly is one of the most effective ways to support someone who has Alzheimer’s. This can raise safety, lessen confusion, and promote general quality of life. With the help of Alzheimer’s home care providers, seniors can feel more confident and welcome in their environment.
Here are some tips to improve their environment.
Declutter and Simplify
For seniors suffering from dementia, a cluttered environment can be stressful and confusing. Streamlining and arranging the house can greatly lower anxiety and improve security. To start, it’s important to reduce the clutter by removing unused objects and storing them elsewhere, donating them, or throwing them away. Additionally, talk with seniors about the things they use most often, and make sure those things are easily accessible. Finally, look at walkways, both inside and outside the house, to make sure seniors can navigate them safely.
Improve Lighting
Speaking of walkways, pay attention to the lighting in those areas and in the hallways of the home. Seniors suffering from dementia need adequate lighting because it lessens the disorienting effects of shadows and brightness. In other areas of the home, try to take full advantage of natural light by encouraging seniors to open curtains during the day. Also, even during the day, shadows can cause distress, which might mean loved ones will need to ensure there is consistent lighting to reduce them. Finally, think about installing nightlights or motion sensor lights in the bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms to keep seniors safe.
Pay Attention to Contrast and Color
Another part of essential Alzheimer’s care is to pay attention to contrast and color. For someone suffering from dementia, colors and contrasts can help with orientation and facilitate environmental navigation. One way to do this is to use contrasting colors on the walls, floors, and furniture to make distinct spaces and objects easier to identify. For instance, contrasting a light-colored wall with a dark-colored chair or couch is more grounding for seniors. This can be used in other places as well, such as using a light-colored tablecloth with darker plates.
Establish a Secure Environment
While providing Alzheimer’s home care, safety is the main priority. It’s important to take precautions to make a loved one’s house safe, which can help them avoid mishaps and injury. Family members can go through the house to assess the flooring, taking out any loose carpets, rugs, and any other possible trip hazards. In addition, they can install grab bars in the bathroom or stairs.
Make Use of Memory Aids
Memory aids can lessen frustration and help seniors with dementia maintain their independence. For instance, to aid in identifying their contents, label cabinets, drawers, and rooms using both words and pictures. Along with this, consider working with Alzheimer’s home care and seniors to create a routine for daily activities, which lessens confusion and frustration. Also, make use of large, legible clocks and calendars to avoid confusion and help with time and date orientation.
Making a house dementia-friendly requires careful planning and modification to make sure the setting is secure, cozy, and encouraging for seniors receiving Alzheimer’s home care. With the tips above, loved ones can make great strides toward keeping seniors safe.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/safety/home-safety-and-alzheimers-disease
https://dailycaring.com/13-ways-to-create-a-dementia-friendly-environment-at-home/
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care Services in Clovis CA please get in touch with the caring staff at A-Plus In Home Care, Inc. today. Call (559) 224-9442.
A-Plus In Home Care, Inc. is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Fresno, Clovis, Sunnyside, Fowler, Reedley, Selma, Sanger, Madera CA, and surrounding areas.
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