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Helpful home changes for people living with dementia

CMHC’s Helpful Home Changes for People Living with Dementia offers simple and practical advice on home adaptations to help people living with dementia, and their caregivers or housing providers, create a safe, secure and independent living environment.

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Lighting

  • Remove any indoor furniture or objects, or outdoor landscaping that might block the windows and keep light out.
  • Use coloured light switch plates so they’ll be easier to find and identify.
  • Replace burnt-out light bulbs as soon as possible.

Doors

  • Paint doors in a different colour than the surrounding walls so they’ll be easier to find and use.
  • Doors should also open fully so that the interior of the room is clearly visible from the hallway.

Floors

  • Use consistent colour tones or patterns, as inconsistencies can be misinterpreted as steps and increase the risk of falling.
  • Remove threshold strips and doormats to avoid potential trips and falls.

Stairs

  • Install solid, reinforced handrails on both sides of all stairways.
  • Outline the edges of all steps with brightly coloured paint or tape.
  • Install rubber treads or non-skid adhesive strips on uncarpeted stairs.

Handrails

  • Handrails should be easy to grasp with rounded ends, a non-slip surface, and a diameter of around 38 mm (1.5 in.).
  • Firmly secure handrails to the wall to support the weight of anyone using them.
  • Turn the rail inward, or install a knob or other feature at each end of the rail to indicate where it stops.

Kitchens

  • Make sure the utensils and equipment the person uses most often are visible and easily reachable.
  • Maximize the amount of light by installing strip lighting above kitchen surfaces and adding spotlights for work areas.

Bathrooms

  • Use contrasting colours to visibly separate the toilet seat from the bowl and the floor.
  • Add handrails in a colour that contrasts with the walls and floor.
  • Install a handheld showerhead so the person can see where the water is coming from and have some control over it.

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Date Published: May 26, 2021

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