The use of colour in nursing homes is an important factor for resident wellbeing. It’s not just about sight and wearing the correct glasses it is also about how the brain processes the information.

Starting with flooring, if the flooring type is too busy visually or if the flooring texture or colour changes this could be difficult for a person with sight loss or dementia to navigate. A resident could mistake contrasting flooring for steps, which could make the resident unsteady, lose confidence, and increase anxiety while walking.

 While flooring type ideally should be seamless and in one colour, other areas can benefit from contrasting colours.

Handrails for example should be painted in a contrasting colour to the wall, preferably in a bright colour the residents can easily identify. The same for toilet seats and sinks. Toilet seats for example can be bought in a red colour, which will stand out in an all-white tiled bathroom. Ideally, background tiles should be coloured, ensuring the white sink and toilet stand out, helping the resident to maintain independence.

Neutral colour palettes such as creams and beiges for nursing home decoration might look aesthetically pleasing but might not be a good environment for the residents. By adding brightly coloured cushions and blankets to the chairs can provide direction for the resident to find the seating areas. 

Brightly coloured dinner plates can help people with dementia and sight loss to notice their meals more. For instance, serving  mashed potatoes or rice on a white plate might make the food difficult to see. A coloured plate can help the food to stand out, encouraging the residents to eat more. It’s a simple yet effective way to help the resident during mealtimes. 

People with dementia often have better recognition than recall. Recognition, which involves identifying familiar faces, objects, or places, tends to remain relatively intact in the early stages of dementia. This is because recognition relies on familiarity and the ability to match new information with stored memories, which can be easier for the brain to process.

On the other hand, recall—the ability to actively retrieve specific memories or facts—tends to deteriorate more quickly in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. As a result, people with dementia might recognise someone or something but struggle to recall their name or the details associated with them.

I recommend the use of brightly coloured neck pillows during the Essence 52 Pamper session. This is primarily for the residents’ comfort, but also as a recognition tool. Many times, a resident would say that they never attended the group pampering session before, despite attending every week, but they would recognise the bright neck pillow as a different part of the brain is used for memory recall and recognition. Recognition can be comforting for a resident with memory problems.

For more information about resident wellbeing or how to upskill to facilitate a resident wellbeing programme please email me: Liz@essence52.com.

All the best,

Liz