Cues
Objects should be arranged to reinforce the cueing of memory in the elderly. Environmental cues can be used as landmarks to help people find their way. The following tips should help provide memory cues: - Use different colors, shapes, and textures in different areas of a facility to give each its own look and feel.
- Use objects of visual interest, such as artwork or plants, to distinguish one area from another.
- Environmental features should be appropriate to the activities of a given area. For example, a place for socializing should have comfortable seating arranged in a way conducive to interaction.
- Place toilets so that they are visible from the bathroom door.
- Use tables, chairs, and low, wide window ledges in corridors to cue a person to stop and rest, as well as to encourage social interaction.
- Use lighting to help keep people in or out of desired areas. When wandering, people will naturally move toward more light.
- Place exits along the sides of corridors rather than at the ends, where people normally turn around when walking. This may decrease the urge to use exits for a person who is wandering.
- Use grid patterns in front of exits to decrease wandering outside. Horizontal lines are a more effective deterrent to wandering than vertical lines.
- Provide many large windows; the outside can offer concrete visual stimuli for older people who may have lowered capabilities for abstract concepts.
- Use blinds if a window makes a street or some other danger area visible to someone who may be wandering. A major consideration for cueing is the use of signs. Use the minimum number of signs necessary. Here are some guidelines to follow when deciding how to use signs effectively:
- Signs must be clear and concise. Too many words on a sign can lead to confusion or people ignoring them all together.
- Any symbols or pictograms used should be simple, uncluttered, and of standard design.
- Sign text should be in a simple, non-serif type, with a letter height of 100-170 millimeters. A mixture of upper and lower case letters is easiest for people to read.
- Hang signs at eye level, and keep them well lit at all times. They must have a non-gloss surface to avoid glare.
- The sign board needs to contrast with the background. The lettering and board must also have a 30/70 contrast to be seen clearly. This is the equivalent of black on white, which is the most legible combination.
- Signs with black lettering on yellow board are best for capturing a person's attention.
- Tactile signs, with words or braille dots that can be read by touch, will help the visually-impaired. These signs must be embossed, not engraved.
For more information related to cues, see the sections on color, noise control, lighting, and mobility.
Further reading on the topic of cues can be found in:The Physical Environment of Special Care Units: Needs of Residents With Dementia From the Perspective of Staff and Family Caregivers. Authors: Debra G.Morgan and Norma J. Stewart. Qualitative Health Research, vol. 9 (1), January1999. pp. 105-118.Shaping a Life-style of Independence: Abilities, Aging, and Environmental Design.Author: Lorraine G. Hiatt. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association,vol. 82 (5), May 1992. pp. 272-277.
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