How Can You Make a Home Dementia-Friendly? 조명과 정리부터 시작하는 부모님 집 안전

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집을 바꾸면 치매를 예방할 수 있을까요? 인테리어만으로 치매를 막을 수 있다고 단정할 수는 없습니다. 하지만 필요한 물건을 쉽게 찾고, 안전하게 이동하며, 익숙한 생활을 이어갈 수 있도록 환경을 조정하는 것은 도움이 될 수 있습니다.

 핵심은 화려한 인테리어보다 ‘어르신이 이해하고 사용하기 쉬운 집’입니다.

부모님 집에서 무엇부터 확인하면 좋을까요?

낮에는 커튼을 열어 자연광을 들이고, 밤에는 침실에서 화장실까지 이동하는 길을 살펴보세요. 밝기뿐 아니라 눈부심, 바닥 반사, 짙은 그림자를 줄이는 것도 중요합니다. 영국 NHS는 고르고 자연스러운 조명이 혼란과 낙상 위험을 줄이는 데 도움이 될 수 있다고 안내합니다.

손잡이와 문은 배경에서 쉽게 구분되도록 하되, 바닥에는 복잡한 무늬나 갑작스러운 색 변화를 피하는 편이 좋습니다. 통로의 전선과 작은 물건을 정리하고, 자주 쓰는 물건은 일정한 위치에 두세요.

익숙한 가구와 가족사진을 모두 없앨 필요는 없습니다. 한꺼번에 집을 바꾸기보다 불편한 부분부터 조금씩 조정하면서 어르신의 반응을 살펴보는 것이 좋습니다.

건망증이나 감각 변화가 곧 치매인가요?

그렇지는 않습니다. 특정 감각의 저하나 실수 하나만으로 치매를 판단할 수 없습니다. 기억·판단·언어 등의 변화가 반복되고 일상생활에 영향을 준다면 의료진과 상담해 평가가 필요한지 확인해 보세요.

아래 영문 본문에서는 가족이 함께 점검할 수 있는 생활공간 원칙을 자세히 소개합니다.

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What Is a Dementia-Friendly Home?

A dementia-friendly home is a living space arranged to make everyday activities easier to understand and carry out. It supports the person’s remaining abilities through familiar surroundings, clear visual cues, and manageable choices.

This is different from claiming that interior design prevents dementia. A safer, more understandable home can support daily living, but it does not replace medical assessment or treatment.

The Korean video discussed here introduces “neuroterior,” a term connecting brain-aware thinking with interior design. The practical question for families is simple: can the person comfortably find, recognize, and use what they need?

1. Improve Visibility Without Creating Glare

Start by looking at the home at different times of day. A hallway that feels bright in the afternoon may become difficult to navigate after sunset.

The NHS recommends bright, even lighting while reducing glare, reflections, and shadows. Open curtains during daylight hours and check whether furniture or window coverings unnecessarily block natural light.

Pay particular attention to frequently used routes, such as the path between the bedroom and bathroom. The aim is comfortable visibility, rather than simply installing the brightest possible bulb.

Image placement: Bright living room
Caption: AI-generated illustration of a home with natural daylight and a clear walking route. This is not a photograph of GARIM’s facilities.

2. Use Contrast Where It Helps Recognition

A handrail that blends into the wall may be hard to notice. A clearly distinguishable handle or doorframe can make an important feature easier to identify.

NHS England highlights the difficulty people with dementia may experience when an object is the same colour as its background. Thoughtful contrast can make useful features more visible.

Contrast should be used selectively. Strong patterns or abrupt colour changes across a floor may be confusing for some people. Consider the surface as the person sees it, especially if they hesitate before stepping onto it.

3. Reduce Clutter While Preserving Familiarity

A room does not have to be empty to be easier to use. The goal is to reduce unnecessary obstacles and make important objects easier to find.

Keep everyday items in consistent places. Clear walking routes, and avoid leaving loose objects where someone may step over or around them.

At the same time, preserve familiar belongings that make the space feel like home. The NHS advises against making major changes all at once. A gradual approach allows families to observe whether each adjustment is helpful.

4. Choose Controls the Person Can Actually Use

A modern device is not automatically an accessible one. The video encourages attention to familiar switches and handles instead of assuming that touchscreens are easier for everyone.

Before replacing a household control, ask the person to try it. Can they locate it, understand what it does, and operate it comfortably?

Simple room labels may also help. The US National Institute on Aging suggests using clear signs or pictures to identify rooms such as the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.

Image placement: Hallway and bathroom
Caption: AI-generated illustration showing a visible doorframe, a wall rail, and an uncluttered route. Individual homes may require different adjustments.

What Should Families Check First?

Begin with a short walk through the home together.

Area	A useful question
Lighting	Can the person see comfortably without glare?
Walking routes	Are there objects or cables in the way?
Doors and handles	Are important features easy to distinguish?
Everyday belongings	Are frequently used items easy to find?
Controls	Can the person operate them independently?
Familiarity	Will a proposed change make the space confusing?

Choose one practical improvement, then observe how the person responds. Their comfort and preferences should guide the next step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can changing the home prevent dementia?

Home modifications should not be presented as a proven way to prevent dementia. Their purpose is to support safety, orientation, and everyday functioning.

Do we need an expensive renovation?

Not necessarily. Adjusting curtains, clearing a route, or keeping important belongings in consistent places can be a useful starting point.

Should we remove all decorations?

No. Familiar photographs and meaningful belongings can remain part of the home. Focus on items that obstruct movement or make essential objects difficult to locate.

When is professional advice needed?

If changes in memory, judgement, language, or other thinking abilities interfere with everyday life, discuss them with a healthcare professional. Dementia involves difficulties that affect daily functioning, rather than an isolated mistake.

Keeping the Person at the Centre

At GARIM, this topic offers a useful question for thinking about care spaces: does the environment make everyday life easier for the person using it?

A home can remain warm, personal, and familiar while becoming easier to navigate. Starting with one troublesome corner or one difficult daily task may be more manageable than redesigning everything.

For families considering residential care or adult day care, GARIM offers consultations about available services and individual care needs.

GARIM Nursing Home · GARIM Adult Day Care Center
Phone: +82-41-837-7575
698 Chungjeol-ro, Imcheon-myeon, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea

Editorial note: This article draws on a supplied summary of the Korean 건강비책 video and guidance from the NHS, NHS England, and the US National Institute on Aging. It does not claim that home design alone prevents dementia.

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