What is your vision for redecorating an alzheimers/locked unit?

gemimi · Nov 3, 2010

Soft colors like blue, with pictures of seascapes / water calm residents (cheerful colors like butter yellow are also nice with lots of painted plants and greenery), keep it as clutter free as possible on the floor as it agitates them when they can't get around (also dangerous, as I'm sure you know). If you have a lot of exit seeking people have a space of black tile in front of the door (they think it is a hole and won't step into it). I like the idea of disguising the door like a book shelf or something else MUCH better though. Cheerful bedspreads (possibly quilts if your staff is honest and won't take them....I had that problem). I had a hallway that had framed posters (approx $40 for poster and a frame bought at a craft store or WalMart type place) of older things / people like Mohammmed Ali, Marilyn Monroe, Pres. Kennedy, The Three Stooges, I Love Lucy, etc. One of my residents who never could hold a conversation with anyone would go up and down the hallway with me and she could name every single one of the people in the posters, also different kinds of animals as the pictures will remind them of pets that they used to haveand trigger many memories. I like the idea of a boutique with big hats and things from the 40's and 50's area (ie: a soda fountain area can easily be added by putting a bar / counter with seats in the dining room and cupboards behind it to store things you will need with a small freezer for ice cream, make cookies somewhere in the area to serve them and they will be able to smell them baking, maybe a popcorn machine. Pipe in music from that era to jog memories (my residents used to love to dance to it and I would join them). I have also seen the frames by the room doors and they had a picture of the resident from when they were in their 20's or 30's because they recognize themself at the earlier age, not the age they are now when they look at it and know it is their "house". Make sure not to forget to decorate the bathrooms so they look like home and not an institution. That could be done very inexpensively as well.

ktwlpn, LPN · Nov 4, 2010

Make sure you use lots of contrasts-this helps them with perception.The toilets need to stand out in sharp contrast from the wall behind them.Same for the furniture.I work in a facility with two secure units-would you believe they have matched the rocker cushions to the color of the wall? I have lost count of how many residents have fallen while trying to sit down but admin won't listen. I would also make sure to have small "landing strip" type lighting down the sides of the halls and something similar to lead each resident to their bathroom at night.

I like some type of memory box beside each residents room-that benefits staff,too.It's great when you can encourage them to see the person instead of the diagnosis or just the troublesome behavior.

You can spend tons of money decorating a beautiful unit but it will still be a cold and miserable place for the residents if you don't take the time to give your staff additional training in dealing with that population. It can be very difficult to re-train experienced staff-and educate the s/o's...We have been so stuck in our routine in LTC we can't let it go.. We HAVE to bath Mary on Tuesday morning-we MUST drag Fred to lunch in the dining room at noon. Sam has to sit up and take his pills at 8 am.Mom must be made up and coiffed by 9 am-ignore the kicking and screaming. Thankfully lots or progressive LTC's are getting away from that in their Memory units.

wiley6coyote · Nov 5, 2010

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. I hope we can implement many of them and make our unit something to be proud of. The staff that works there really love the residents and we do try to be flexible - in some ways it is my favorite place ( I work in several units) to be. :nurse: