Most of us spend our lives in homes that have meaning to us. So it’s hardly surprising that the environment we live in affects our sense of security and confidence. This can be especially true for people living with dementia, as the way they perceive the world around them changes. When we partner with families to improve the lives of their loved ones living with dementia, one of the most impactful things we can do as a team is find ways to promote familiarity and independence.

When aged care environments are designed to look and feel like real homes, people living with dementia are more reassured, independent, and secure. Next time you visit a HammondCare location, you may notice some of the visual signals we use to assist people living with dementia to interact with their surroundings. Contrasting door and wall colours, natural light, and memory boxes all serve as cues for a person living with dementia to understand where they are, and how to navigate to where they want to be.

Positive eating and dining experiences are essential to quality of life for all of us, and there are several ways we create family-style dining environments to help people living with dementia feel more at home. For example, dining rooms contain familiar items like tablecloths and cabinets with crockery, and small tables encourage social connection and engagement.

Visible and accessible kitchen areas invite residents to see and smell food being prepared and be involved with meal preparation where possible. Being part of these familiar routines can help a person living with dementia to feel calm and provide an orientation of time and place.

One of the most commonly asked questions by relatives and friends is what they can do to help a loved one settle into residential aged care. Bringing possessions from home can greatly contribute to the overall sense of familiarity and comfort for a person in aged care and make the adjustment process easier.

Having a favourite armchair, memento, blanket, or artwork can help a person to create a connection with their room and feel more settled in the space. Photo albums with captions are helpful for carers to understand and talk about the person’s life, their memories, and loved ones. Family and friends are encouraged to visit as often as the resident wishes and many of our homes have multipurpose rooms that can be reserved for celebrating special events such as birthdays.

Creating familiarity for a person living in aged care is vital to helping them feel more at home. Implementing smart design features, maintaining routines, creating social connections, prompting memories, and creating comfort with cherished possessions are just some of the ways we can help people stay connected when the world around them changes.