Yellow helps highlight improvements for dementia patients
Yellow is being used at Withybush Hospital to help dementia patients find their way around.
Approximately 25% of people accessing hospital services are likely to have dementia and the number of people with dementia is expected to double by 2030.
Colour can be used to encourage or discourage movement into certain areas and brighter colours may be used to emphasise more important areas of a room.
Yellow is a highly visible colour and often used to carry important messages and good visual cues are important for patients with dementia.
Last year wards 1,7,8 and 12 at Withybush Hospital underwent simple enhancements to improve the environment of care.
The aim was to improve orientation and visual cues for patients with dementia locating toilets. Doors on all patient’s toilet areas were painted a distinctive yellow colour and a symbol sign used to denote the room.
County Head of Acute Nursing, Lesley Jenkins, said: “Patients in general have felt that it was easier to find their way around the ward and locate toilets.
“Staff have also reported that it was easier to explain ward layout and highlight toilet facilities simply by signposting to the yellow doors.
“The changes demonstrate that relatively inexpensive changes can have a significant impact on the patient’s experience.”
Alongside toilet doors Withybush Hospital has also introduced new clocks designed for people with dementia (with large, easy to read clock faces and with day/month displayed), improved general signage and introduced colour schemes and bold furniture in the day rooms and reception areas for people with dementia.
These ideas are now being introduced to other wards and the design concept is being integrated into new capital projects.
Approximately 25% of people accessing hospital services are likely to have dementia and the number of people with dementia is expected to double by 2030.
Colour can be used to encourage or discourage movement into certain areas and brighter colours may be used to emphasise more important areas of a room.
Yellow is a highly visible colour and often used to carry important messages and good visual cues are important for patients with dementia.
Last year wards 1,7,8 and 12 at Withybush Hospital underwent simple enhancements to improve the environment of care.
The aim was to improve orientation and visual cues for patients with dementia locating toilets. Doors on all patient’s toilet areas were painted a distinctive yellow colour and a symbol sign used to denote the room.
County Head of Acute Nursing, Lesley Jenkins, said: “Patients in general have felt that it was easier to find their way around the ward and locate toilets.
“Staff have also reported that it was easier to explain ward layout and highlight toilet facilities simply by signposting to the yellow doors.
“The changes demonstrate that relatively inexpensive changes can have a significant impact on the patient’s experience.”
Alongside toilet doors Withybush Hospital has also introduced new clocks designed for people with dementia (with large, easy to read clock faces and with day/month displayed), improved general signage and introduced colour schemes and bold furniture in the day rooms and reception areas for people with dementia.
These ideas are now being introduced to other wards and the design concept is being integrated into new capital projects.
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