Designing for Clarity: A Practical Guide to Making Your Home Dementia-Friendly

Our homes are our sanctuaries—places of familiarity, comfort, and history. But for someone living with dementia, the home environment can gradually transform into a source of confusion, frustration, and even danger.

As our cognitive abilities change, so do our perceptions of our surroundings. Patterns on a carpet might look like holes in the floor; a white toilet against a white wall might become invisible; mirrors can become distressing.

Making a home dementia-friendly involves more than safety measures; it means adapting the environment to support changes in memory, perception, and judgment. Reducing distractions helps the person focus on living well.

To help you get started, let’s break down the approach. First, we’ll look at the benefits of making adaptations, then move on to a step-by-step checklist for auditing your home.

Why Adapt the Home? The Core Benefits

Making these changes can feel overwhelming, but the payoff in quality of life is immense for both the individual with dementia and their caregivers.

1. Increased Independence and Dignity. When a person can easily find the bathroom, recognise their favourite chair, or get a glass of water without help, they retain a sense of control. Small victories in daily tasks boost self-esteem.

2. Reduced Anxiety and Agitation. Cluttered, confusing environments cause sensory overload and worry. Calm, predictable spaces are soothing.

3. Enhanced Safety: Preventing falls is paramount. People with dementia often experience changes in depth perception and balance. Proactive adjustments significantly reduce trips, slips, and appliance-related accidents.

4. Better Nutrition and Hydration. Difficulty distinguishing food from plates or finding the kitchen can reduce intake. Making food visible and accessible helps.

The Golden Rules of Dementia Design

Before diving into the checklist, keep these three guiding principles in mind for every room:

• High Contrast is Key: Aging eyes need more light, and dementia affects color discrimination. Use contrasting colours to define objects, such as a dark bath mat on a light floor or a red plate on a white tablecloth (personally, I’m not keen on the “red plate” concept, I’m red/green colour blind and it unsettles me. - I recommend any plate with a line around the perimeter that defines its boundary).
  

• Reduce Clutter aggressively: Clutter is visual noise. If it’s not essential for daily use, store it away. Too many options cause confusion.
  

• Lighting Matters: Shadows can look like objects or intruders. Aim for bright, even, natural-looking light.
  

The Home Audit Checklist

Walk through your home as an “observer”. For each item below, pause and consider the specific needs of the person living with dementia. Try to see potential challenges or hazards from their perspective, such as blurred vision or slowed thinking. Note where adjustments will help.

General Home & Hallways

• Lighting: Are hallways brightly lit? Are there motion-sensor lights for nighttime bathroom trips?
  

• Flooring: Are rugs secured with grip tape or removed entirely to prevent tripping? Is the flooring matte? (Shiny floors can look wet or slippery, causing hesitation).
  

• Shadows: Are there areas with harsh shadows or dark corners? (Add lamps to even out the light).
  

• Mirrors: Are large mirrors causing distress? (Sometimes people with dementia do not recognize their reflection, thinking a stranger is in the house. Consider covering or removing them if this occurs.
  

• Doors: Are essential doors (bathroom, bedroom) easily identifiable? Consider using signs with pictures and text.
  

The Living Room

• Seating: Is their favorite chair easily accessible, comfortable, and easy to rise from (higher seat, firm arms)?
  

• TV/Electronics: Is the remote control straightforward to use? Consider choosing a remote with large, clearly marked power, volume, and channel buttons for simplicity.
  

• Clutter: Are coffee tables clear of unnecessary knick-knacks?
  

• Patterns: Are there busy patterns on curtains or upholstery? (These can be visually overstimulating or look like bugs/dirt). Solid colours are calmer.
  

The Kitchen (The Hub and Hazard Zone)

• Visibility: Are everyday items such as mugs, tea bags, or snacks visible on the counter or in transparent cupboards? Items not in sight are likely to be forgotten.
  

• Appliance Safety: Do you have auto-shutoff devices for the stove or kettle? Are knobs easily understood?
  

• Contrasting Crockery: Do plates contrast with the food served on them, and with the table/placemat underneath? (White rice on a white plate on a white tablecloth is nearly invisible).
  

• Sharps and Chemicals: Are cleaning products and sharp knives stored securely out of sight?
  

• Fridge: Is expired food cleared out regularly? Is healthy food placed at eye level?
  

The Bathroom

• Contrast is Crucial: Does the toilet seat contrast with the toilet bowl and the floor? (A black seat on a white toilet is much easier to target).
  

• Safety Grab Bars: Are they installed by the toilet and in the shower/bath tub?
  

• Flooring: Is there a non-slip bath mat inside and outside the shower?
  

• Taps: Are Hot and Cold clearly marked with red and blue indicators? Is the hot water temperature regulated to prevent scalding?
  

• Toiletries: Are only essential toiletries out? (Remove clutter to avoid confusion about what bottle does what).
  

The Bedroom

• The Path at Night: Is there a clear, lit path from the bed to the toilet?
  

• Clothing: Is the closet overwhelming? Reduce choices. Lay out the next day's clothes in a visible spot the night before.
  

• Personal Items: Are photos of loved ones and familiar comforting items easily visible near the bed?
  

• Calm: Is the room free of a TV or other electronic distractions that might disrupt sleep hygiene?
  

The Garden and Outdoor Spaces

• Paths: Are pathways flat, even, and free of moss or slippery leaves?
  

• Seating: Is there a sturdy bench in a shaded area where they can rest?
  

• Boundaries: Are gates secure so the person cannot wander off unnoticed?
  

• Toxic Plants: Have you checked that plants are non-toxic in case of ingestion?
  

Conclusion

Don't try to do everything on this list in one weekend. Start with the areas that currently cause the most stress—usually the bathroom and the kitchen.

Small changes make a big difference. By adapting the environment, you aren't just changing a house; you're changing a life. I'm trying to implement changes gradually as I encounter problems.

You are enabling the person you care about to live with greater confidence and peace of mind.