Tips for a dementia-friendly environment

You may recognize it:

An elderly woman who cannot find the toilet, or a confused man who does not understand the pin machine. As more and more people are suffering from dementia, it is important that more and more people can recognize and cope with dementia signals

With this type of tips, one can help people with dementia to find their way, so that they can continue to participate in our society.

• Explanation for change in shops and supermarkets

Do you know any persons with dementia? Then you should realize that it is extremely difficult for them to adjust to a new situation, when for instance there have been made changes in the local shop. For them this may lead to disorientation, confusion and unrest.

We must make sure that someone is always available for customers with dementia – a person who can calmly lead the customer and explain the changes.

• Finding the way

Is the signage clear and clearly visible?. Attach the signposts directly to the doors they refer to, not to adjacent surfaces such as door posts. This way you avoid unnecessary confusion for people with dementia. Especially check the signs that indicate exits and toilets.

• Recognition points

For example, a large plant or a painting can serve as a landmark for people with dementia. The more notable this ‘landmark’ is, the easier it is for them to find their way.

• Take a short break

Persons with dementia can become anxious or confused from a large, busy space. Therefore, create enough places where people with dementia can take a break. Make sure the seats are recognizable: for people with dementia a wooden bench is easier to recognize than a metal design sofa in a less recognizable shape.

• Doorsteps and staircases

Steps should be marked with well contrasting coloured and reflective (anti-slip) strips as to make them more visible and better passable. Especially this is the case for the first and last step of a staircase. The difference in depth and height will be emphasized in this way.

• Floors

Research shows that persons with dementia are anxious or can become restless from a busy designed floor or carpeting. A floor in a uniform mat colour gives more peace. Try to avoid thresholds or indicate them well with a contrasting colour.

• Ask an experienced expert

Ask persons with dementia how they experience the local supermarket or shop. They are the experts and often know best what they like and what possible problems need some attention.

Checklist for creating a dementia-friendly environment in offices, shops and buildings

Often small changes can improve the accessibility of the (public) spaces and make a big difference for people with dementia. This checklist can be used to check how dementia-friendly the space in offices, shops or buildings is. Some of the points from this checklist, such as clear signposting and lighting, can be realized for relatively low cost and little time.

Other changes require larger investments and can be considered if the budget allows or if the owners are going to renovate. Often, these issues not only apply to people with dementia, but also to others groups. So if you help someone with dementia, you probably also help others.

Golden tip

• Ask people with dementia how they experience the office, shop or building. They can often tell in the best what they like and what could cause problems.
• For more information and “best practices” about creating a dementia-friendly environment please visit alzheimer-nederland.nl/dementievriendelijk  and do different tests to create a dementia friendly environment for different locations (https://samendementievriendelijk.nl/)  IN DUTCH ONLY but with translation option

Quiet space

• A large, busy area can cause someone with dementia to feel anxious or confused
• Is there a space in the area/building where the person with dementia can take a break or draw back? Often a person with dementia needs a few minutes is in a quiet well-ordered room, just too calm down. Sometimes some help and guidance can help. It helps when the entrance and exit of the room is clearly visible.

Signage

• Provide clear signposts in areas/buildings, with clearly readable letters and sufficient contrast between the text and the background of the signs. Use primary and secondary colours. Example: “follow the red line and you can sit on the green seats”.
• To ensure that the person with dementia actually recognizes the sign as a signpost, it is important that there is sufficient contrast between the sign and its background. It also helps using only one letter type on all signposts.
• Attach the signs to the doors they refer to, and not to adjacent surfaces. This way you prevent unnecessary confusion in people with dementia.
• Are the signs attached at eye level and are they well lit? Try using stylized and abstract icons on signposts as much as possible.
• Are the signposts attached in the right places for someone who is visiting your place for the first time can easily find the way? Keep in mind that people with dementia may need these signs every time they visit your place.
• Check especially on the signs that indicate the exits and the toilets, these are very important.
• Ensure that glass doors in your building are clearly indicated with stripes or whatever.

Lighting

• Are the entrances to your building sufficiently lit? And wherever possible by natural light?
• Try to avoid large surfaces with many lamps and shady places as much as possible.
• Avoid anything that can cause over-stimulation. Preferably no funky stuff and all sorts (flickering) party lighting, .

Floors

• Reflective and smooth floors can cause confusion for people with dementia.
• Carpeting with busy pattern scan cause problems for people with dementia, due to failing depth insight. It is better to choose for simple patterns or solid carpeting and rugs.
• Changes in the floor surface, such as thresholds, can increase the risk of tripping. All thresholds and steps must be clearly indicated especially in dressing rooms and toilets.
• Can people with dementia in the shop/areas (if applicable) use a dressing room where a partner or neighbour can help them to change clothes? If not, is the personnel sufficiently instructed to support the person with dementia hereby?
• Is a toilet room available in the shops/buildings where the person with dementia can get support from possible company without creating uncomfortable situations?
• Are the bathroom or toilet clearly marked with texts such as toilet or bathroom?
• Do not forget to check the corridors that lead to the toilets: people with dementia can often find the toilet by following the signposts. Once inside they may not be able to remember through which door they entered the toilet. You can easily solve this by placing a sign with “Exit”on the inside of the entrance door.
• Have toilet seats in a contrasting colour from the wall and the rest of the toilet itself. This makes it easier to distinguish for people with visual problems.
• Are there enough seats available where people with dementia can wait quietly? This is particularly important in large buildings.
• Are the seats easy to recognize as seats? For people with dementia a wooden bench is easier to recognize as a seat than, for example, an abstract metal design sofa in a unrecognizable shape.

(sources: Alzheimer Nederland, dementievriendelijk.nl,  and www.enable.org.hk)