For seniors who are aging in place and receiving Alzheimer’s care, maintaining independence remains a key consideration. With this in mind, it’s easy to see that steps need to be taken to ensure that seniors have the support they need as memory and cognitive function decline.
For instance, visual cues throughout the home help seniors better navigate daily life while building confidence and reducing frustration.
Why Visual Cues Work
Alzheimer’s disease typically affects short-term memory first, while procedural memory and the ability to recognize visual information often remain intact longer. Visual cues bypass the need to remember verbal instructions or locations by providing immediate, clear guidance that can be processed without complex reasoning.
Essential Visual Cues for Different Areas
Rather than adding visual cues throughout the home that may or may not benefit seniors receiving Alzheimer’s care, there are areas that should be focused on first.
Entryways and Navigation
- Color-Coded Doors: Paint important doors distinct colors—blue for the bathroom, green for the bedroom—to create instant recognition.
- Directional Arrows: Use floor tape or wall decals to create pathways to frequently visited areas.
- Room Signs: Install clear signs with both words and images, such as a bed icon for the bedroom or a toilet for the bathroom.
- Remove Mirrors: Mirrors throughout the home might cause confusion, as a loved one might see their reflection and not recognize themselves.
Kitchen Safety and Independence
- Clear Cabinet Labels: Use picture labels showing what’s inside each cabinet—plates, glasses, or cooking tools.
- Appliance Instructions: Place simplified step-by-step instructions with pictures directly on appliances.
- Color-Contrasting Dishes: Use plates that contrast with food colors to improve perception during meals.
- Medication Reminders: Create visual medication schedules with pictures of pills and clock faces to remind seniors when they should take their medications.
Bathroom Support
- Toilet Visibility: Use a colored toilet seat that contrasts with the toilet to make it easier to identify.
- Shower Steps: Add visual cues for shower steps with bright, contrasting tape.
- Hygiene Sequences: Post simplified bathing or grooming sequence cards with pictures showing each step.
Bedroom Organization
- Clothing Selection: Organize clothes in complete outfits with picture labels, or use a daily clothing organizer with sections for each day.
- Nighttime Guidance: Install motion-activated night lights to help seniors find their way to the bathroom at night.
Alzheimer’s Care Implementation Tips for Success
In general, Alzheimer’s care needs to be consistent. With that being said, it’s also important to be consistent with support, such as adding visual cues throughout the home. Visual cues, for example, should always be placed at eye level and in the same spot. Sudden changes can cause confusion and distress.
Additionally, vision issues need to be considered when creating visual cues. Signs with strong color contrast, such as black text on yellow backgrounds, will work well for most seniors. Finally, visual cues need to be simple without unnecessary clutter or information. The clearer the message, the better.
By thoughtfully implementing these visual cues throughout the home as part of the Alzheimer’s care plan, seniors are able to better navigate their daily lives with confidence and reduced frustrations.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Alzheimer’s Care in Danville, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5358323/
- https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dementia-and-visual-cues-197747.htm
- https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/non-verbal-communication-and-dementia
- https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/communications
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