Page 16 - TCHD brochure #1

Personalisation

Opportunities to personalise certain things should be an absolte right for
anyone living in a Care Home. It's part of the home-making process for the
individual to have their own thing and an identifiable, personal space. It's
important to have that sense of ownership and that something belongs
to you and no-one else. Clearly indicating this personal space reinforces
the sense of 'home' and also helps to 'protect' it from anyone else
mistaking it as theirs. Making a personal space clearly identifiable to the
owner, reinforces their confidence and helps to make it their sanctuary
and their place of safety.

There are some basic design requirements in-keeping with our design
principles that should be observed within a residents room. These are an
appropriate colour and contrast scheme which can also be echoed
in the bedding and furnishings making their surroundings attractive and
supportive too.
The lighting should also be excellent, ideally with dimmable LED's so appro-
priate light levels can be available as and when required.

Residents should be actively encouraged and supported to make their
space their own with furniture, trinkets, pictures and so on.

Personalised elements have an important role to play in helping resident
find their room in the first place.

Observing general orientation strategies around the home, residents should
be able to find their way 'home' and then be able to confidently identify
their own room.

Memory Boxes, when correctly used, are an ideal landmark that adds
interest to a corridor, provides some interesting information about the
owner, and reliably informs the resident they have arrived at their room.
Additional products such as personalised signage is further reinforcement
and identifiable door styles which can be easily created using Door-cals,
along with the addition of door furniture all add to the ease of orientation
and the sense of 'home'.
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