When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, ensuring their home is safe becomes a primary concern. The condition affects more than memory; it can alter perception, making a dark rug look like a hole or a reflection appear as a stranger. While the task can feel daunting, simple and inexpensive modifications can make a profound difference.
This guide provides a clear path to creating a secure, comfortable space, room by room.
How to Prevent Falls: The 3 Biggest Risks to Address
A familiar home can become an obstacle course for someone with dementia. The condition changes how the brain processes sight, causing shadows to look like steps, dark rugs to be mistaken for holes, and depth perception to become unreliable. These visual shifts, combined with potential balance issues, make falls a significant risk. You can dramatically improve safety by focusing on floors, clutter, and lighting.
1. Create Unobstructed Walkways
The clearest path is the safest. Removing trip hazards is the first step:
- Remove all throw rugs and unsecured mats.
- Clear paths of extension cords, stacks of papers, or low furniture.
- Secure the edges of any larger area carpets with double-sided tape.
If maintaining a clutter-free home becomes difficult to manage alone, our domestic assistance services can provide regular support to keep the living environment safe and organised.
2. Improve Visibility
Dementia can make it harder to adjust to changing light levels, increasing fall risk after dark. Add automatic, plug-in nightlights in hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
3. Highlight Hazards
For stairs, place a strip of brightly colored tape on the edge of each step to create contrast, making them easier to see and navigate.
Kitchen Safety: 4 Simple Ways to Prevent Fires and Accidents
The kitchen presents unique challenges, especially the stove. To prevent someone from forgetting a burner is on, consider these four safety measures:
- Stove Safety: Use simple stove knob covers or remove the knobs entirely when not in use.
- Appliance Control: Unplug the garbage disposal, toaster, and microwave when unsupervised.
- Visual Clarity: Rummaging through cupboards is a common behaviour. Be aware that a brightly colored bottle of dish soap can be mistaken for juice, or decorative fruit might look like a real snack.
- Lock Hazardous Items: Move all cleaning supplies, medications, dishwasher pods, and alcohol to a locked cabinet or pantry. This removes the risk of accidental poisoning.
Making the Bathroom Safer: Tips for Slips, Scalds, and Confusion
With its hard, slippery surfaces, the bathroom is a common place for falls. Immediately lower this risk by placing non-slip mats in the tub and on the floor. Installing sturdy grab bars next to the toilet and in the shower provides crucial support, improving both independence and safety.
Regulate Water Temperature
Hot water is another danger, as someone with dementia may not judge temperature accurately. Set your home’s water heater to a maximum of 120°F (49°C) to prevent severe scalds. For more detailed guidelines on bathroom modifications, resources like Dementia Australia offer extensive advice.
Use Visual Contrast
Perceptual changes can make it hard to distinguish objects of the same colour, rendering a white toilet against a white wall nearly invisible. Use a brightly colored toilet seat, like red or blue, to create a clear visual target. This simple contrast makes the toilet easier to find, reducing accidents and preserving dignity.
For families who need additional support with bathing and hygiene routines, our in-home aged care services offer respectful, personalised care.
How to Secure Your Home and Reduce Wandering
Wandering is a major fear for caregivers, but the behaviour is rarely aimless. Often, the person is trying to fulfil a purpose from their past, like “going to work” or “checking on the kids.” Addressing this goal-driven impulse is key to managing it safely.
- Install Slide Bolts: While complex locks can increase agitation, a simple slide bolt installed very high or very low on exit doors is often effective. Placing it outside the typical line of sight reduces the likelihood of discovery.
- Use Door Alarms: Simple alarms that chime when a door is opened can provide an early warning.
- Visual Deterrents: Placing a solid black doormat in front of an exit can be surprisingly effective. To someone with altered depth perception, this dark area may look like a hole or an impassable barrier.
The Alzheimer’s Association provides comprehensive strategies for managing wandering behaviours compassionately.
Managing Sundowning: How Light and Sound Can Create Calm
As evening approaches, some people with dementia become more agitated or confused—a pattern known as “sundowning.” This is often manageable by adjusting the home’s environment.
Adjust Lighting
Proactive lighting is one of the most effective management techniques. As natural light fades, long shadows can be disorienting. Turn on plenty of warm lamps well before sunset to erase harsh shadows and create a smooth, consistent visual field. This makes the transition into nighttime less jarring.
Reduce Noise
A blaring television or multiple conversations can be overwhelming. Try lowering the overall volume of the house and swapping the evening news for soft, familiar music to foster a sense of calm. You can learn more about managing sundowning symptoms from trusted health organisations like the Mayo Clinic.
Maintaining a routine with social connections during the day can also help reduce evening agitation. Our Wellness Centres offer a supportive environment for engagement and activity.
Creating Your Action Plan: One Room, One Change at a Time
A dementia home safety checklist doesn’t have to be a source of dread. Instead of a daunting list of tasks, view it as a set of achievable solutions.
The goal is progress, not perfection. This week, pick just one thing: put a non-slip mat in the bathroom or remove a busy-patterned rug. A single, simple act is a powerful step toward creating a safer, more supportive home and granting everyone greater peace of mind.
Need Support with Home Safety and Care?
At Cura Community Services, we understand the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. Whether you need assistance with daily household tasks, personal care, or social support, our multicultural team is here to help you navigate this journey.
Contact Cura Community Services today to discuss how we can support your family.
