Corridor
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Principles 3 & 7
- Memory boxes with personal photographs and objects can help a person with dementia to identify their own bedroom.
A glass framed memory box allows for the contents to be viewed when walking along the corridor and also when one stands in front of it.
Principles 5 & 6
- Ensure even lighting – from ceiling lights and supplementary wall lights to achieve a minimum light level of 150 lux during the day and 50 lux at night.
If possible, running glass panels along the top of the corridor walls will fill the space with natural even light and reduce the institutional feel.
Principles 3 & 4
- Principle 4: Ideally, corridors should be as short as possible with no more that 4 bedrooms along one corridor. If the corridor is long, then ensure that it doesn't have a dead end or a locked exit door at the end of it.
Principle 3: A large unique object or a distinctive looking seating area can be placed at the end of the corridor as a way to help orientation. Each corridor should be characterised with a different orientation element so that they can easily be told apart.
Principles 2, 3, 4 & 6
- Principles 6, 4 & 2: Reduce excess stimuli in the environment by avoiding long corridors.
Principle 3: Ensure that the colours and patterns used on floor surfaces are appropriate
Find out more about colour
Ensure that materials used for floor surfaces are non-slip and non-glossy Materials and Surfaces
Principle 3
- To ensure clarity in the environment maintain clear colour contrasts between the floor, the skirting, the door and the door handle
Find out more about colour
Principle 4
- Recess the staff hand washing sink in the wall and hide it with a roller shutter that matches the colour of the wall. This will help reduce unnecessary stimuli in the environment and avoid people inappropriately using the sink.
Principle 4
- Doors to no access areas can be camouflaged by making them the same colour as the wall and by removing the door frame. Continue the lean rail and skirting board across the door as well so that it blends in with the wall.
Principles 3 & 8
- Principle 8: Display paintings, artwork or family photos along corridors to reflect the unique personalities of those who live there.
Principle 3: Interesting and unique features in a space can also act as cues to aid way-finding
Find out more about Orientation and Way-finding
Principles 4 & 6
- Principle 4; Principle 6: Bedroom doors should not be opposite each other but should be staggered along the corridor to reduce people leaving their room and heading straight into the bedroom opposite.
Each house should have a different interior bedroom door pattern. This gives each house an identity aiding orientation and way-finding
Find out more about Orientation and Way-finding
Principle #4; Principle #6: Recess bedroom doors to reduce the visual perception of long corridors full of doorways.