Dementia Action Week takes place from 21 – 27 September 2026. People living with dementia have at least twice the risk of falling compared with those without dementia and are more likely to experience serious injury and other adverse outcomes following a fall. As many older adults living with dementia wish to remain living at home for as long as possible, creating supportive home environments is an important component of both falls prevention and maintaining quality of life.
A dementia-friendly home is designed to support safety, independence, participation, and wellbeing. Dementia can affect memory, planning, problem-solving, mobility, and the way sensory information is interpreted. As a result, everyday activities may become more challenging, while environmental features such as clutter, poor lighting, patterned flooring, glare, or excessive background noise can increase confusion and contribute to falls risk.
For professionals working with older adults, simple environmental modifications can offer significant benefits. Key dementia-friendly design principles include:
- removing hazards
- minimising unnecessary stimulation
- improving lighting
- enhancing visual cues
- supporting safe movement throughout the home.
Practical strategies may include keeping walkways clear, grouping commonly used items together, using labels, increasing contrast between objects and their surroundings, and ensuring frequently used spaces are easy to navigate.
Bathrooms and bedrooms deserve particular attention, as these are common areas for falls. Installing a raised toilet seat and grab rails can make it easier and safer to get on and off the toilet, while ensuring toilet seats are securely fitted can help reduce the risk of slips. Mobility aids should always be within easy reach to support safe transfers and movement around the home. If there is difficulty getting in and out of bed, it may be worth assessing whether the bed height is appropriate and considering alternatives that better support independence and safety. Night lights or motion-sensor lighting can improve visibility when moving around after dark, while keeping bedroom and bathroom doors open can help create a clear and accessible path at night.
Living areas can be made safer by removing clutter, reducing glare, and improving the visibility of furniture and key items within the home. Outdoor spaces can also promote health and wellbeing when they feature clear pathways, stable seating, a safe spot to store gardening tools and hose, and meaningful activities such as gardening or interacting with sensory plants.
Importantly, dementia-friendly design is not about creating a clinical environment. Familiar furniture, personal belongings, photographs, and preferred colours all contribute to a sense of identity, comfort, and belonging. By adapting the home environment to meet changing needs, older adults living with dementia can be better supported to remain engaged, independent, and safe.
At Home with Dementia is a free Dementia Australia service that provides a home consultation with an occupational therapist. The service supports older adults and their families to identify practical changes that can make the home environment safer, more supportive, and better suited to their individual needs.