Have a Dementia Friendly Valentine's Day

Do you have a loved one living with dementia? Most likely, your first thought following diagnosis was not, ‘Gosh, I need to change that grey and white kitchen tile.’ Colours are often neglected when discussing how to live well with dementia, yet it turns out that they have a significant impact on a person with dementia. We are constantly learning about the effects of colours on people with dementia, including how they can change mood, trigger memories, and create a supportive environment.

Dementia can appear in numerous forms and mainly affects memory. It also has an abnormal effect on how the brain interprets other people, the environment, and, yes, colours. Home Instead provides excellent home care and live-in care, specialising in dementia care. We want people in the community as well as those affected by dementia to understand the importance that certain colours have.

When it comes to colours technically none are ‘good’ or ‘bad’, however everyone is different and can favour different colours. Dark colours are usually avoided and disliked by people living with dementia as it can come across menacing and make them feel uneasy.

Black is a colour that can become quite frightening as a black rug may appear as a big hole in their living room so make sure to keep and eye out for any behaviour where they might be trying to avoid this.

Researchers discovered that bright red colours have a significant impact on people’s eating habits; utilising red tableware, utensils, and cups increased food intake by 24% and drink intake by 84%. At Home Instead, we have several clients living with dementia who attend a number of our events, including a fish and chip lunch. We purchased a set of red plates, mugs, and bowls to test if it affected how much they consumed. We noticed a significant difference, so if your loved one isn’t eating enough, try serving dinner on a red plate!

The colour red is known for being a colour those living with dementia can see for a long time. It usually represents strong emotions, such as love, passion and anger. It’s also used to gain attention; stop signs, fire engines and red lipstick. Love symbols are coloured red, such as hearts and roses so the Valentine’s Day period can be so important. At this time of year the colour red can be seen everywhere – in shops, streets and on tv! It can be a great opportunity to put some decorations up or get crafty with your loved one using the colour they see best, RED! Don’t forget to gift them some big, bright red roses.