Making a care home room feel like home

A room full of familiar things can help someone feel settled and safe in a new home. This matters for everyone, and especially for people living with dementia.

Start with what matters to them

Ask what they would like to bring. A favourite chair, a clock that has always ticked on the mantelpiece, or a quilt made by a relative can mean more than anything new.

Ideas

• Photos. Family photos, wedding photos and pictures of places they have lived. Label them with names if memory is a problem.
• Furniture. A familiar armchair, side table or chest of drawers, if there is space and it is safe.
• Bedding. Their own bedspread, cushions or a throw.
• Pictures. Paintings or prints from home.
• Sound. A radio set to their favourite station, or music they love.
• Things for their hobbies. Knitting, books, puzzles, a garden on the window sill.
• Faith. A Bible, a cross, a prayer book or other items that matter to them.

For someone with dementia

• Familiar objects can help them recognise their room.
• A memory box or a board of photos can start conversations with staff and visitors.
• A clear, uncluttered room is easier to move about in.
• Contrasting colours, such as a bed cover that stands out from the floor, can help.

Check first

Ask the home about room size, fire safety rules for furniture and electrical items, and whether things can be hung on walls.

At Cedar House

At Cedar House, residents and relatives are welcome to personalise the bedroom and decorate it to their own taste. Every room has a point for a television, and residents can have their own phone. Ground-floor rooms open onto the gardens. See some of the rooms in our gallery.

See also: what to bring when moving into a care home.