Home Modifications for Dementia: A Room-by-Room Guide

Dementia can change how a person understands the space around them. A patterned rug may look uneven, a dark shadow may seem like a hole, or an everyday item may become harder to recognise.

Simple home modifications for dementia can help make rooms easier to use and move through. Better lighting, clear pathways and familiar items in familiar places are useful starting points.

You do not need to change everything at once. Begin with the areas causing difficulty, involve the person in decisions and check whether each change helps.

Where Should You Start?

Before buying equipment or moving furniture, notice how the person uses their home.

Do they hesitate at a doorway? Have trouble finding the toilet? Struggle to see their plate at mealtimes? These observations can help you choose changes that address a specific need.

Dementia affects people differently, so a change that helps one person may not help another. Keep favourite furniture, photographs and familiar routines wherever possible.

Start with small adjustments and give the person time to get used to them. Larger changes should be planned around their needs, with professional advice where required.

Lighting and Colour Throughout the Home

Good lighting helps people see objects and move between rooms. Aim for even light that reduces glare and strong shadows, rather than simply using the brightest bulbs available.

Open curtains during the day, keep windows clean, and check whether furniture blocks natural light. Use blinds or curtains to soften direct sunlight when it creates glare.

Colour contrast can make useful items easier to find. For example, a dark chair against a pale wall may be easier to recognise than a pale chair in the same spot. Helpful adjustments include:

• Making light switches and handrails stand out from the wall
• Choosing plain furnishings where busy patterns cause confusion
• Keeping lighting reasonably consistent between adjoining rooms
• Reducing reflections from shiny surfaces
• Making important doors, such as the bathroom door, easy to identify

Use contrast carefully on floors. A sudden dark strip or large change in floor colour may look like a step or gap. Ask an occupational therapist for advice before changing floor finishes or marking steps.

Living Room: Keep Familiar Spaces Easy to Use

The living room should remain a comfortable place to relax, spend time with others and enjoy familiar activities.

Keep the usual furniture layout where it works safely. Clear walking routes without removing the personal items that make the room feel like home. Useful changes include:

• Removing loose rugs that create a trip hazard or cause visual confusion
• Moving trailing cables away from walking routes
• Keeping everyday items within comfortable reach
• Providing a stable chair that is easy for the person to sit in and stand from
• Reducing background noise when it makes conversation difficult

Avoid moving belongings without explaining where they have gone. A tidy room is helpful only if the person can still find what they need.

Kitchen and Dining: Make Everyday Tasks Clearer

Kitchen changes should help the person take part in familiar activities while managing risks.

Start by keeping commonly used items in consistent places. Simple words or pictures on cupboard doors may help someone find cups, plates or cutlery. Try a few labels first and check whether the person understands them.

At mealtimes, choose plates and cups that stand out from the table and the food being served. A plain placemat may be easier to understand than a busy tablecloth. Other changes to consider include:

• Clearing unnecessary items from work surfaces
• Keeping frequently used equipment easy to reach
• Checking food storage and expiry dates together
• Storing cleaning products safely away from food
• Asking about suitable stove shut-off devices if appliances are being left on

Safety equipment should match the person’s needs and appliances. It does not replace support or supervision where these are needed.

Continue offering choices and opportunities to help, whether that means preparing a snack, setting the table, or choosing a meal.

Bathroom: Improve Visibility and Reduce Hazards

Bathrooms can be difficult to navigate because of wet surfaces, reflections, and fittings that blend into the background.

A contrasting toilet seat may make the toilet easier to identify. A simple sign or picture on the door may also help the person find the room. Consider:

• Even lighting that limits glare and shadows
• Slip-resistant flooring with a matte finish
• Keeping the floor dry and free of loose items
• Placing familiar toiletries where they are easy to see
• Covering a mirror if the reflection causes distress

Grab rails should be selected and positioned for the individual. An occupational therapist can assess where they are needed, and a suitable installer should fit them securely. Towel rails should not be used as grab rails.

Ask a licensed plumber about suitable hot-water temperature controls to reduce scalding risk. Avoid changing hot-water system settings yourself.

If bathing remains difficult, the person may also need assistance with the routine, even after the room has been adapted.

Bedroom: Support a Calm Night-Time Routine

A familiar bedroom layout can help the person feel more settled. Keep essential items, such as glasses and an agreed way to call for help, within easy reach.

Check the route between the bed and bathroom. Remove obstacles and make sure the person can see where they are going.

A gentle night light or suitable motion-activated lighting may help. Check that it comes on early enough, stays on long enough, and does not create startling shadows.

Other useful steps include:

• Keeping footwear in a consistent, easy-to-find place
• Avoiding trailing bedding or cables near the bed
• Using simple labels if finding clothes is difficult
• Keeping the room comfortable and reducing unnecessary noise

Seek advice if getting into or out of bed is difficult. Bed height and equipment need individual assessment; adding bed rails without advice can introduce new risks.

Hallways, Stairs and Entrances: Keep Routes Clear

Walk through the routes used most often, including the entrance, bathroom and kitchen.

Look for clutter, damaged flooring, poorly lit areas and objects that narrow the path. Keep mobility aids accessible if the person uses them.

Make sure stairs and entrances are well lit. Handrails should be secure and easy to see. Ask for professional advice about step markings, ramps or changes to thresholds.

Keep exits usable and avoid introducing locks or barriers as a quick solution to concerns about someone leaving home. Discuss those concerns with a health professional so safety, choice and emergency access are considered together.

When Do You Need Professional Advice?

An occupational therapist can assess how the person’s abilities, daily routines and home environment work together. They can recommend changes and help prioritise what is most useful. Professional input is particularly important for:

• Grab rails, ramps and bathroom alterations
• Changes to beds, seating or transfer equipment
• Ongoing falls or difficulty moving around
• Appliance safety and hot-water controls
• Changes that could restrict movement or access

Home changes are one part of support. If daily routines are becoming harder, dementia care services in Melbourne may help families explore assistance beyond the physical environment.

Ask about costs, eligibility and any approvals before arranging major work, especially in a rented property.

Review Changes as Needs Evolve

After making a change, observe whether it helps. Is the person finding the bathroom more easily? Moving through the hallway with greater confidence? Feeling more comfortable at meals?

Keep what works and seek advice about anything that increases confusion. A simple record of concerns and useful changes can help when speaking with health professionals.

If you receive NDIS-funded assistance yourself, household task support may help maintain your agreed home routines. It does not replace a dementia-specific assessment or automatically cover a parent’s care needs.

Finding the Right Support for Your Family

Ability Support Plus primarily supports NDIS participants. If you are managing your own disability support while also helping a parent living with dementia, it can be useful to discuss how those responsibilities affect your routine.

Where included in your plan, support coordination can help you organise your own supports and connect with relevant services.

Contact Ability Support Plus to discuss your situation and where to seek further guidance.