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

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Any suggestions for redecorating an Alzheimers/locked unit?? Ours is painted the most depressing shade of green with dirty flooring to boot.It always smells and does not feel uplifting in any way, shape or form. The staff would like to make it more welcoming and homey but feel overwhelmed as to where to start. :idea:

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Specializes in LTC.

If there are residents who are somewhat in their mind and able to answer.. ask the residents.

Its their home.

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The residents are not able to comprehend/ give an opinion which is probably why it is the most neglected area- no one complains except the staff.

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Specializes in LTC.

Soft neutral colors. Anything bright would be agitating. Trunk, coat rack with things for sorters to go through. I also like the idea of having some old black and white photos around.

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Paint the walls a nice neutral color like light tan or eggshell white, clean the floors, get a local elementary school to color some Thanksgiving pictures (hand turkeys are always a good option), add some fragrant flowers to possibly help with the smell and spruce the place up, voila! I feel like an interior decorator now.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

As the daughter of an Alzheimer's patient, I think decorating like a cheerful home would be great (think buttercream yellow with lots of plants, inexpensive prints on the walls). If you are from a rural area, painting "windows" that have farmland scenes looks great (I've also seen pretty-realistic looking wall decals that have such scenes). I would also recommend an aviary, and picture/statues of dogs and cats (so many people miss their pets). If you could get each resident's family in the unit to contribute some family pictures to hang on the wall of a common area, I think that would also make it more home-like for them.

P.S.--these suggestions come from how my mother's locked unit is decorated. It's very homey, and my mom really likes it.

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My MIL has been in 3 places. One of the places had built-in framed areas by each pt's' door, and the families could bring in a photo of their loved, or some special trinkets/knick-knacks that they liked.

Another had the exit door covered with a huge decal of bookshelves - it was a distraction since it no longer looked like a door was there.

Many places have a coatrack with a variety of light weight jackets and coats, maybe some old-fashioned aprons, and sometimes the residents would try them on. A small set of shelves with some stuffed animals or soft dolls is usually welcome, as well.

I agree with soft colors, and some nice framed prints, as well.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

This would be totally budget-dependent, but my stepmother (Alzheimers) was absolutely riveted by the floor-to-ceiling birdcage in our local hospital lobby. Lots of smallish, colorful nesting birds.

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I am a first year nursing student, and I just observed the most beautiful AZ unit. All along the walls, beautiful trees, vines, flowers were painted. Occasionally there was a garden gate. They had a really large tree painted and the residents pictures were on the branches, like a family tree. Even the locked exit door was painted/disguised to look like a beautiful stone window overlooking a garden with blue skies, birds, flowers etc. There was much stenciling of vines trailing all over.

Inspirational quotes and sayings were also painted in strategic places.

At each room's door was a locked glassed in frame/memory box for mementos/photos of that resident.

If you had someone talented enough, the cost of paint is all you would really need!

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I have been to one with a pretend pet shop (real aquatic life and birds inside), boutique (lots of fancy clothes, hats and jewelry to try on), workshop (you can make things there, looks like a garage kind of), 50's style diner (they actually serve food there), street signs, and even bus stops! It was so cute to see people waiting at the bus stops. They seemed to feel content in their little pretend village. Of course I'm sure this was an outrageously expensive place to live......but, it was very nice!

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WOW - I'm totally in awe from your suggestions! :redpinkhe

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Just my 2 cents: If you want to repaint, check out the local paint shops, like Sherwin Williams (not Home Depot or Lowes). I know that Sherwin Williams typically have a lot of paint in the back that just aren't the right color for a particular customer but is perfectly fine paint. I used to work in a commercial SW and we had tons of 5 gallon pails that were just a shade off that a contractor couldn't use. We'd either give them away or sell them for like, $5.

Also, I think the black and white photo idea is FANTASTIC! Maybe some sepia ones too...I wouldn't do real flowers or anything (fellow allergy sufferer lol).

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