Dementia Friendly Communities

What is a Dementia Friendly Community?

Dementia Friendly Communities support, respect and include people living with dementia and their partners in care in the places they live, work and play. It’s a community that values contribution, opportunity and choice.

Where can you find Dementia Friendly Communities? 

Dementia friendly communities can exist on a large scale, such as a municipality, city, or neighbourhood, or on a smaller scale within those areas. 

Grocery stores, libraries, financial institutions, restaurants, workplaces and many other establishments can become dementia friendly, along with community groups and service organizations such as recreation centres, seniors’ centres, and more.  

Individuals can also foster dementia friendly communities within their social circles and relationships by seeking to educate themselves and others on the realities of living with dementia, fighting stigma and misinformation, and advocating for a more accessible world. 

In summary, any social or physical environment can be dementia friendly through conscious efforts to foster accessibility. 

Why become Dementia-Friendly?

When organizations, businesses, municipalities, and the general public become dementia-friendly it ensures people can age in place and remain active members of their community, which has proven benefits to long-term health outcomes, society and the health care system. Further, dementia-friendly principles can make spaces more inclusive, supportive, and accessible for everyone – not just people living with dementia. 

What Does a Dementia Friendly Environment Look Like?

Challenges with memory may make retracing a path and way-finding difficult. Thinking about the design and placement of signage can help to ensure spaces are welcoming and easily navigated. A few examples include:

• Use clear signage with a high contrast between text (bold-plain text) with images that represent what is in the space (i.e. a toilet on a washroom door). It should be placed at eye level at key decision points and on the relevant doors (not beside them), or can be visible from all directions (on both sides of a corner)
• Background noise should be kept to a minimum and a quiet space for customers is ideal
• Flooring should be plain. A shiny floor may look wet. Avoid dark mats, patterned flooring/carpets and undistinguished changes in floor level. Remove mats that could be a tripping hazard. Black mats could be perceived as holes or blue ones as water, and patterned floors are difficult to navigate
• Use recognizable (not abstract) seating that supports the upper back and has armrests to allow momentum to exit the chair. Armrests and a colour that contrasts with the floor will also support someone with impaired depth perception

The changes don’t need to be costly or hard to implement. You can find helpful tip sheets with more suggestions here or give us a call at 1-800-611-6345.

The Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia is committed to advancing Dementia Friendly Communities in Nova Scotia - communities that are more supportive, respectful and inclusive of people living with dementia and their care partners.

It is important to address the stigma associated with a dementia diagnosis. It’s also essential to understand how physical and social environments play a key role in people being able to stay connected to their social and community life and engage in regular daily activities of living.