We highlight five ways to improve the design
Good design can have a significant impact on the experiences of people with dementia and have a beneficial effect on their quality of life, particularly as their condition develops to include some form of visual impairment. Set out below are some of the things that you can do to help make your premises more dementia friendly.
The importance of colour and contrast
The requirement for appropriate design was enshrined in the Equalities Act (2010) which protects people from discrimination, both within the workplace and wider society, and was then followed through in the building regulations (Approved Document M). One example from the Act is Visual Impairment, which explains what can be done to prevent any person with this disability from being discriminated against. The use of colour and contrast was introduced for use on critical surfaces, to enable anyone with a visual impairment to navigate their way around a public building.
This is achieved by using a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) which is an individual measurement that is applied to a colour. The LRV scale ranges from 0, assumed to be a perfectly absorbing surface that is Black, up to 100, which is assumed to be a perfectly reflective surface that is White. However, due to practical influences in any application, Black is always greater than 0 and White is never equal to 100. It is this fundamental element that is applied within dementia design.
Five dementia friendly design hints
There are several key elements to consider when creating dementia friendly designs:
1. Consider the entire room and its furnishings. The degree of visual contrast should be considered for all surfaces and this may include floors, walls, doors, frames, ceilings and handrails. It is recommended that each surface should have a light reflectance value of at least 30 points between them, while furniture should also offer a distinguishable visual contrast to the wall and flooring.
2. Light reflectance values should also be considered for key fixtures and fittings as LRV differences between small objects on a larger background such as door handles are important.
3. Avoid realistic floral patterns as they may appear life like which can encourage someone to pick at the design and cause confusion and agitation. Wavy patterns can appear to move causing an imbalance and some geometrics with high colour contrast can cause 3D perception issues and distress.
Patterns in a lower colour contrast that are less perceptible are suitable for use in wallpapers, furniture and curtains. Some higher colour contrast patterns can also be used with caution, such as in cushions which can be easily removed should they cause distress.
4. Surfaces with a high sheen level can appear wet and similar to water. Products with a matt or satin finish are preferable.
5. Dark surfaces and shadows can be interpreted as holes. Shadows can be minimised through the use of appropriate lighting.