Dementia and Home Safety: Assistive Technology That Helps, Room by Room

Around 83,000 New Zealanders are living with dementia (mate wareware), and many live at home with the support of whānau. Small, well-chosen changes at home can help a person keep doing the things they enjoy, with more confidence and less frustration for everyone.

Our earlier guide, Supporting Someone Living with Dementia: A Guide for Families, covers the likely first steps and where to find support. This guide picks up from there, room by room.

Three principles to start with

Dementia can change how a person judges distance, sees contrast and finds their own way around, so a dark rug can for some people look like a hole in the floor and a white toilet can disappear against a white wall. Most helpful changes follow three principles:

• Keep it familiar. Change one thing at a time and keep any favourite furniture in place and stick to familiar routines.

• Make it visible. Use strong colour contrast so that grab rails, toilet seats and plates stand out against the background.

• Make it simple. Choose equipment easily used with one button and one job.

Hallways and night time

Good lighting is the cheapest and most effective change you can make. Motion-sensor night lights along the hallway and a lit path from bed to bathroom reduce the risk of a fall at night, and a simple picture sign on the bathroom door helps a person find their way. 

For anyone using a walker for safer mobility, the Silverlux Safety Light clips onto the frame and lights the path ahead at the press of a button.

In the bedroom, a bed at the right height makes getting in and out easier, and an electric bed which is high-low adjusts at the press of a button to suit the person.

The Big Button Talking Alarm Clock speaks the day and the time out loud with a single tap, which can be reassuring in the middle of the night, and our Red Non Slip Socks give better grip when walking on hard wooden floors.

The bathroom

Consider the need for:

• Grab rails beside the toilet and in the shower, in a colour that contrasts with the wall.

• A raised toilet seat or toilet frame to make sitting down and standing up easier.

• A shower stool or shower chair so washing can be done seated, saving energy and possibly lowering the risk of a slip.

It is also worth checking that hot water is delivered at a safe temperature.

Mealtimes

A plain plate in a colour that contrasts with the food and the table makes a meal easier to see. The Manoy Contoured Plate and our Scoop Plate both have a raised edge to push food against, and the Two Handled Ceramic Mug is steadier to lift. Together they help a person possibly keep feeding themselves for longer, which supports both nutrition and dignity.

The living room and getting out

A chair with firm arms at the right height can make standing easier, and an electric lift chair gently raises a person to a standing position so that they can get up without waiting for help. Keep a clock and any familiar family photos in full view of the favourite chair.

Staying active matters too. A walker with a built-in seat, such as the Wanaka Rollator, can support longer walks with somewhere to rest. For a mobility scooter, talk to an Occupational Therapist first, because driving safely depends on judgement and an awareness of traffic.

Plan for what comes next

• Start early. New equipment is easier to learn to use while our memory is stronger.

• Try before you buy. Our hire service lets you trial equipment at home first.

• Ask about funding. Your GP can refer you for a needs assessment to see if you are eligible, and our team can help you to better understand your options.

For dementia-specific advice and support groups, Dementia New Zealand and Alzheimers New Zealand both offer free services nationwide.

Come and talk it through

Visit our showrooms in Browns Bay, Royal Oak or Botany, or book our mobile service across Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and the Coromandel. We ship assistive products nationwide. 

As a charitable trust helping New Zealanders live well since 1980, our advice is honest and focused on what is right for you and your whānau.

Call us on 0800 625 100, visit ilsnz.org, or drop into a showroom.