Dementia affects how the brain processes sensory information, including colour perception. This can result in confusion, anxiety, and difficulty navigating spaces for someone with the condition.
Creating a dementia-friendly home doesn’t just relate to the colours on the wall; it’s about taking a holistic approach to ensuring that the home environment is comfortable, safe, and calming for the person with dementia.
In this article, we’ll cover how colours and home design can affect people with dementia and how you can ensure your loved one’s home is as dementia-friendly as possible.
How colours affect people with dementia
As dementia progresses, a person’s ability to perceive and differentiate colours may diminish. This can cause various issues for your loved one, ranging from confusion and distress to trips and falls.
Research shows people living with Alzheimer’s Disease see the colour blue better, whilst people living with vascular dementia see the colour red better.
Low contrast colours
Some individuals with dementia may experience a reduced colour contrast sensitivity, making it hard for them to distinguish between similar tones (e.g. if you have similar colours on the wall and floors).
This reduction in colour contrast sensitivity may mean your loved one struggles to focus on objects that don’t stand out sharply against their backgrounds. Ultimately, this may affect their depth perception, causing them to become confused or more likely to trip over objects in the room.
Ensuring elements such as light switches, crockery, and toilet seats stand out for your loved one is essential. You could put coloured tape around light switches and choose bold, bright colours for your plates.
High-contrast colours, patterns and textures
Using contrasting colours around the home can help ease confusion and make navigating the room more manageable for your loved one.
However, be mindful that bold patterns and high-contrast colours can also be confusing for some people with dementia. For example, a dark rug or contrasting black and white tiles can look like holes in the floor for some people with dementia. Hi-shine surfaces may also be perceived as patches of water, which could cause confusion and distress for your loved one.
Mood and emotions
Colour has a profound effect on mood, particularly for individuals with dementia whose ability to process sensory information and emotional cues may be altered.
A 2016 study indicates that the proper use of colour can help manage emotions and promote a sense of calm, comfort, and well-being.
Here’s how different colours can influence the mood of someone with dementia:
Blue can have a calming effect. Lighter blues can be used in rooms where you want to encourage relaxation, such as bedrooms.
Green. Time in nature can be great for our well-being. Perhaps that’s why research suggests that the colour green can ‘lower activity of the central nervous system’. It’s another colour that can create a sense of calm in a room.
Lime green is a vibrant shade that can be well-distinguished, even as the eye ages. It may be a valuable colour for making essential elements around the home stand out for your loved one.
Red is a more stimulating colour. It can also help increase the perception of warmth in a room. If your loved one struggles with feeling cold (even when the room feels warm), use red soft furnishings such as pillows and blankets to help the room feel warmer.
Research also shows that red can help stimulate the appetite of someone with dementia by up to 33%. If you’re encouraging your loved one to eat more, try serving their meals on a red plate.
Colours to avoid
Blues, greens, and purples can be difficult for people with dementia to distinguish. Take care when using these combinations to avoid confusing your loved one.
Yellow is often considered a cheerful and mood-boosting colour. However, it can also signify hazard or danger. Some research suggests that ‘people lose their tempers more often in yellow rooms’. If your loved one can become frustrated and aggravated easily, limiting the amount of yellow they’re exposed to around the home may be worthwhile.
As previously mentioned, dark black furnishings or pattern elements may be perceived as holes by people with dementia and cause distress.
However, using black elements in the home could prove helpful if your loved one is prone to wandering where they shouldn’t. For example, a black mat could be placed in front of a room or door you want to prevent your loved one from using.
Specialist dementia home care
At Comfort Care At Home, all our care professionals are highly trained in caring for clients with dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease. We provide support for your loved one’s personal and day-to-day domestic needs, as well as being a trusted friend and companion.
Contact us to discuss how we can support your loved one with our at-home dementia care services.