Dementia Friendly Care Homes

Those living with dementia require specialist care and support, which extends to the environment they live in too.

A dementia-friendly care home is a facility designed to support the higher care needs of individuals living with dementia. Similar to a residential or nursing home, safety and comfort will always be a priority, but through thoughtful design, such as clear signage, open layouts, memory-triggering objects and personalised spaces, the environment can help to retain independence for as long as possible.

At Barchester, we provide dedicated dementia friendly communities and offer a personalised approach to residential dementia care. Taking into consideration an individual’s wants and needs, and also identifying potential triggers to alleviate distress and support them to live a fulfilling, happy and active life.

We know how important it is for families and friends to feel supported and reassured, especially when transitioning their loved one into a care home, and our expert teams are on-hand to help in any way they can.

What are memory lane communities?

Barchester’s experience with those living with dementia has taught us that maintaining a person’s independence for as long as possible is important to their happiness and well-being. Dedicated Memory Lane Communities are present in most of Barchester’s dementia care homes, and are specially designed to be safe environments that minimise disorientation, with careful attention to detail on lighting, colour theming, furnishing and areas of engagement to support residents to navigate around their surroundings.

Memory Lane Communities are broken up into small sections, to make them more easily navigable and to ensure that both residents and families feel safe and comfortable. Care in our communities is based on independence and choice, and our teams take the time to get to know each person to shape a care and social plan around their unique needs. 

Key features of dementia friendly care homes

A dementia friendly care home should not only ensure that a person is well looked after but that their care impacts their quality of life and overall well-being positively. As dementia progresses, the need for specialist care increases. At Barchester, most of our care homes foster a dementia friendly environment - taking into consideration facilities, life-enriching activities, nutritious food and specially trained carers.

Facilities designed for dementia

Our care homes are designed to support all residents to live a fulfilled life. Those living with dementia may find it difficult to locate specific areas or rooms, which is why our secure environments have been designed to include contrasting colours, themes and memory or sensory prompts, to improve way-finding and help with navigating the home more easily.