Assisted Living Facilities in Saraland AL: – Decorating

October 23, 2013 by ·

Believe it or not, the newest niche for interior decorating is for senior apartments such as assisted living!  There is a huge need for effective decorating for assisted living apartments. The decorating should be safe yet functional, both convenient and comfortable.Assisted Living Saraland AL

If your parents are on the fence with their decision to move to assisted living, the look of the living space should not be something that holds them back. There is no need to live in a dreary, plain apartment with stark white walls.  An assisted living community in this day and age should look more like the comforts of home than an antiseptic hospital room.

Have some fun with the decorating.  It’s true; mom and dad will want to take some of their special mementos with them.  That’s entirely fine and even highly encouraged.  The rest of the décor can be made to fit in with their favorites.

The following tips for decorating will help you and your loved ones make the most of the space they will have in their assisted living apartment:

1)   Make decisions about which items from the family home are the most important to keep.  What will fit best in the new space?  Take what’s important, but not so much that it creates a clutter problem.  Think about gifting some of the items to other family members or friends.  Donate any extra items that won’t be used.

2)   Preventing falls is of paramount importance.  The arrangement of the furniture within their apartment should be clutter-free, with no cords draped across the floor and no tripping hazards.

3)   Optimize the space for visibility and choose great colors.  Eyesight changes with age, so strong contrasts between items is a good idea so your elderly loved ones can distinguish between them as they experience declines in their visibility.

4)   Consider furniture that doesn’t have sharp corners, such as round tables etc.  If sharp square corners can’t be avoided then consider putting on some rounded attachable plastic corners to protect your loved ones from the sharp edges.

5)   Avoid design, and patterns with lots of dark color or dark spots. The dark spots could look like spots of dirt, or even holes for someone with dementia, or acute vision loss.

6)   Besides color and design, also think about the tactile feeling of objects.  This is especially important for those who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Touch is a huge sensation, because other sensations are dimming.  Touch provides a way to excite the senses and can also be effective in stimulating memories.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living  in Saraland  AL  at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living Saraland AL · Tagged:
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
Google Verified Author