Using murals to enhance a dementia care setting

According to research carried out by the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC), a good dementia friendly environment can help to reduce falls by 70 per cent, agitation by 60 per cent and incontinence by 50 per cent. The tools used to achieve such improvements include dementia friendly signage, orientation aids, clocks, good quality flooring, the use of colour contrast (in particular in toilet areas) and high levels of lighting. 

Murals are a relatively new addition to the care home environment and therefore the potential benefits and indeed negative effects of using them are still not fully understood.  Case studies have shown that when murals are used correctly they can bring about a number of positive changes. Appropriately positioned murals offer residents choices about where to go and what to do and can encourage social interaction and engagement with their surroundings as well as providing appropriate levels of stimulation. There is a list of additional health and wellbeing benefits too, which includes increased levels of exercise and in turn, increased levels of nutrition and hydration. 

Unfortunately there are also many examples of their use resulting in an increase in agitation and confusion, which has a negative impact on quality of life and wellbeing and potentially increases the risk of falls. For example,  a mural on a wall showing tables and chairs in a café could cause frustration if someone wanted to sit down, not to mention being painful if they tried to pull out a chair or sit down.