Moving into a care home is possibly one of the greatest changes most people go through. It can feel like a significant change, and some people may struggle to adapt to it. One way to make the change and adaptation easier is to make the space away from home your new home. There are various innovative ways you can arrange and decorate your nursing home room to make it feel more like home.
This guide explores various ways to arrange your nursing home room to create a more homelike environment, offering practical tips and ideas to promote well-being and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
Why You Should Arrange and Decorate Your Nursing Home Room
Decorating your nursing care home room takes more than just making the surroundings more appealing. The appearance of the room has a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of the resident.
A well-decorated nursing home fosters a sense of belonging, transforming the room into a warm sanctuary that reflects the resident’s unique identity while evoking a sense of comfort and familiarity, making the room more habitable.
Safety and functionality should also be considered when decorating and arranging a nursing room. The environment should be clutter-free to minimise hazards and promote independence.
The organisation and decoration of your nursing room also have an impact on cognitive stimulation and functions.
Ways to Decorate and Organise a Nursing Home Room
Add Photos to Bring Life to the Room
When relocating to the nursing care home, you should carry photos of your loved ones and any other cherished and precious photos that you have. Placing your loved one’s precious photos is one of the best ways to warm up your new room and make settling in easier.
The photos help create a sense of comfort and highlight points of interest, while also lifting the mood. Having photos of familiar faces in the room also helps remind you that you are loved. They also help to evoke memories from their younger years.
Besides hanging up the photos, you should also keep some of them in accessible places where you can look at them with ease.
Take Treasured Belongings
You can bring your favourite armchair, pictures and other small belongings to help personalise your room. Some care homes allow you to bring items such as your own bed linen, a blanket, or a throw to add to your décor, making the room more comfortable and relatable for you.
Adding furniture that holds sentimental value can bring a sense of normalcy to the new environment and help you make the space feel more comforting quickly.
Create a Memory Box
Family members can contribute to your comfort at the nursing care home by creating a memory box to give to you, which you can keep in your personal space. Having a few treasured items in the memory box can help you feel encouraged. You can also regularly add to the box to keep it updated and your memories recent.
You can also take the creation of the memory box as an activity for the entire family when you first move in. The memory box is particularly helpful for individuals with dementia, as it aids in recalling memories and personal experiences.
Flowers and Plants
Your nursing care home room doesn’t have to be a concrete jungle; you can add some nature through flowers and plants, which can also be a wonderful addition for your mental health. When selecting plants to add, choose those that are low-maintenance so they don’t require a lot of your time.
Having plants around the room can help to purify the air and provide an instant mood booster. Artificial plants and flowers can also help bring in colour and joy to the room.
Familiar Smells
Your sense of smell is a powerful and very evocative sense that has strong associations for you and your loved ones. Bringing your favourite fragrances into your room can help create smell notes that make the room feel more like home.
Music
Music is a big part of the lives of many people, and sometimes, music can be strongly linked to strong emotions and memories. Bringing a radio, a music player or other devices that help you go back in time and relive precious moments can be vital in making your stay in that care home more comfortable.
Bring Your Hobbies and Crafts
One of the benefits of being in a care home is that you will have plenty of free time on your hands. In many care homes, you don’t have to worry about housekeeping, which frees you up to focus more on the things you like. This is why you should bring your hobbies and crafts when going to a nursing care home.
Integrating your hobbies and crafts into your bedroom décor can help you maintain your independence and keep yourself busy during your downtime. Whether it’s knitting, painting, puzzles, or crocheting, having these activities readily available can promote engagement and a sense of purpose. You can also use the items you make to adorn your room, making it more homely for you.
Closing Remarks
Personalising your nursing care home room is a great way to make it easier to adapt to the new space and environment. Adding supplies and materials for their chosen hobbies allows residents to continue pursuing their interests and talents, rather than being hindered by their new environments.
The best thing about these tips is that they’re easy to use, affordable, and don’t require additional financial resources, which might be tight if you’re entering a care home.