Page 17 - TCHD brochure #1

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Thoughtfully executed as part of a wider design scheme, these are all proven strategies that support confidence and
indepedence whilst adding character and interest and all in a tasteful, attractive way.

Strategies like this give people more confidence to leave their room and be more active around the home.

A sterile home without distinctive features is a terrible place to live with a dementia as residents are immobilised by their fear
of being lost. There are beautiful hotel-style homes where residents can't engage with the environment because of this
entirely rational fear.

Food for thought on bedroom signage:
We tend refer to residents Bedrooms where personalised signage is concerned. For all that a residents home may be a room
with a bed, it isn't just a Bedroom as such. Only teenagers live in bedrooms!

So we now offer a range of signage which provides the option of not having the word 'Bedroom' on it. This may be more
respectful and acceptable to some residents. The important components in the sign are the picture and title that are
added to the it. The title could be someone's name, possibly a maiden name if that's what they prefer. Or just a first name.
Alternatively it could be Rose Cottage, or 18 Smithy Lane. If it's readily recognised, then it's right.

The same goes for the picture. It doesn't need to be a photo of the resident necessarily just something they reliably
recognise. Taking the trouble to ensure the signage is as appropriate as possible provides enormous comfort to the owner.

Using a photograph of a resident in their bedroom sign may often occur because managers see this as a way to help
temporary or new staff and visitors to identify the resident. There's some merit in this but it doesn't necessarily work for the
resident who often may not recognise their own image. We suggest using a dedicated display of residents photo's to help
staff and visitors put names to faces. Also, on occasions residents can be mistaken for a visitor and vice verse, so a photo
display can help to avoid these issues too.

Personalisation

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