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Bathroom design considerations to help with Dementia

By Adam Ferry Occupational Therapist

Whilst there are a variety of dementias, all of which have different rates of progression, symptoms are generally very similar, albeit with variable levels of severity.

If you or a relative have been diagnosed with dementia you may have noticed some memory loss, often short/medium term, reduced concentration or ability to process new information. There may be some challenges when putting a number of tasks together in order (known as sequencing), and as dementia progresses these all impact on the ability to risk assess.

Whilst nothing about home modifications can stop the condition, there are some relatively simple considerations that can maximise independence, safety and dignity in spite of its presentation.

  • Use colour to clearly mark out spaces within the room so that the whole bathroom doesn’t look the same. 
  • Look at colour contrast and ensure that colour difference have a clear light reflective value (LRV) difference.
  • Glare and reflection can cause confusion so try to limit these with well-placed lighting, ideally task lighting.
  • Use low surface temperature fixtures and heating (such as under floor) to reduce burn risks.
  • Consider how water can be controlled or monitored in case it’s forgotten to be turned off.  Something like a Sure Stop stopcock can be a really useful addition.
  • Think about how to future proof so that as the dementia progresses you are still able to function as independently and safely as possible.

As the longer-term memory is often less affected by dementia it’s important to maintain as many of the person’s routines as possible. That means whilst making modifications to the environment, try not to change the position of main fixtures and fittings too dramatically.

G360 have the experience to support you and your family through this process, with knowledge of the condition and the marketplace in order to provide a bespoke design to completion service, in order to maximise independence and dignity whilst reducing risk.