This week marks Dementia Action Week – an initiative from the Alzheimer’s Society that looks to raise awareness of dementia and signpost to the support available to those living with the condition and their families.
AkzoNobel brands Dulux Trade and Dulux Decorator Centre are experts when it comes to designing dementia care facilities. Whether it be updating someone’s home or decorating a residential care home, Dulux can support you in choosing the right colours and placing them in the correct places. This is key to helping those living with dementia retain their independence and aid wayfinding.
Dementia Friendly Colour Palette
Dulux Trade, alongside the British Research Establishment, created the Dementia Friendly Colour Palette to support specifications in this sector. It includes colour recommendations for main walls, critical surfaces (walls, floors and doors) and feature walls – and suggests that these surfaces have contrast between them to ensure they are more easily identifiable. There should be a minimum of 30 points of Light Reflective Value (LRV) between each surface.
The palette also recommends utilising feature colours to highlight obstacles and hazards like pillars, handrails and radiators. In contrast, staff only areas should be painted in the same colour as the main walls to avoid unauthorised access.
Find out more
Dulux Trade and Dulux Decorator Centre offer a wide range of assets to support architects and specifiers design dementia spaces.
The Dulux Decorator Centre specification hub is your one-stop-shop for advice on the right products, colours and colour placement in this sector. You can also find out more about the Dementia Friendly Colour Palette and products like Dulux Trade Scuffshield, Dulux Trade Diamond Matt, Dulux Trade Sterishield Diamond Matt and Dual Active Matt that are ideal for use in healthcare settings.
The Dulux Trade Commercial Colour Service Consultants are also on hand to support. With years of specification experience across a range of sectors and commercial environments, the team can help you create beautiful and functional spaces, designed around the needs of the occupants.
For further information, listen to the latest Building Insights podcast here