There are ways you can make your kitchen reduce stress for you and your Alzheimer’s loved one.
Kitchens are usually a flurry of activity and kitchen counters are notoriously covered in piles of random objects, It’s the evidence of a busy modern family.
But, both the flurry and the piles can be contributing to unnecessary stress for an Alzheimer’s family member.
As your Alzheimer’s loved one progresses through the disease, it can be increasingly difficult to process information through their senses. From the sense of smell to hearing to vision, it can be more and more difficult to identify each stimulus. And the more stimuli presented in an environment, the more items the Alzheimer’s brain has to identify. This means, a cluttered environment could make someone with Alzheimer’s ‘stop in their tracks.’
Design tips:
Stay clutter free. Everyone with a family knows that it’s hard to tame the kitchen counter clutter, but it’s essential for removing stress in an Alzheimer’s household. I like to keep one shelf or drawer ’empty’ so that it can quickly absorb those random objects from family members.
Use color. Color can be an Alzheimer’s caregiver’s best friend. By using colors that contrast on adjoining surfaces, it helps define the vertical and horizontal planes for an Alzheimer’s brain.
Don’t reflect. Reflections and shiny surfaces can be disorienting and upsetting, so choose matte when possible, and limit the mirrors and glass in every room.
Natural light. Light becomes more important in the life of someone with Alzheimer’s. Not only are there issues with Sundowners, but there are also issues as we all age with the yellow tinting of our sight, and the narrowing of our vision. The more natural light during the day, and the more even the light can be at night, the easier it will be for an Alzheimer’s household.
Soothing scents. While the sense of smell starts to decline for someone with Alzheimer’s, odors that are positive and familiar from their past are the best kind. Plug-ins and battery-operated scented candles can be perfect.
Clear walking path. Falls are a huge issue for Alzheimer’s loved ones. Removing rugs and other possible trip hazards can help create a safer environment for your family.
Be sure to join our AlzDesign Twitter chat every Sunday at 7pE for more tips.
