By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay)
SUNDAY, Nov. 13, 2022 (HealthDay News) — While most homes aren’t designed to be dementia-friendly, they’ll easily be adapted, in line with a national Alzheimer’s disease group.
“Virtually every aspect of a house can affect the person’s quality of life,” said Charles Fuschillo Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).
“From purchasing higher-tech appliances all the way in which right down to labeling dresser drawers and putting up old family photos, there are a selection of adaptations family care partners can use to make their loved one’s home more dementia-friendly,” he said in a foundation news release.
The AFA offers suggestions for making a space that will likely be soothing for a loved one with a dementia-related illness.
Color might help set the mood, so blue generally is a calming selection in a bedroom, bathroom or area where someone might chill out. Red, orange and purple are energetic and stimulating, and is probably not ideal selections for helping someone stay calm.
Keep color contrast in mind for helping aid in vision, depth perception and spatial orientation, the AFA suggests. For instance, dishware that contrasts with the tablecloth color could make it easier for somebody with dementia to see the food on the plate.
Visual clues can simplify life for somebody with dementia, in line with the muse. This could include putting labels on dresser drawers with a small picture and the name of the contents, similar to shirts or socks.
Décor will also be soothing and help with mood and memory recall. Family photos, pictures of places someone enjoys and vintage magazines that help remember a time prior to now can all be helpful.
Proper lighting might help the one you love with dementia see higher but may affect the body and behavior. For instance, blue light rays stimulate the brain, increasing alertness and elevating energy levels.
Lighting that mimics natural patterns of high blue light in the course of the day and low blue light at night can improve sleep and reduce agitation. Lights that produce glare may make it harder for somebody to see, and flickering lights can increase agitation.
Technology can fill needs for care partners who don’t live with the person who has dementia. These can include app-controlled thermostats to program, change and maintain the temperature remotely.
Smart alarms for smoke and carbon monoxide will be programmed with friendly human voices and monitored with an app.
Interactive virtual assistant technology will be used to schedule reminders and events that will likely be audibly played for a loved one. This might include phrases at the precise times of day, similar to “it’s lunchtime now” or “time to take your medication.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on dementia.
SOURCE: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, news release, Nov. 10, 2022
Copyright © 2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
