Wall Art and Dementia

Earlier this year, my mother was diagnosed with some form of dementia. Further investigation revealed it to be Alzheimer’s. This is not a recoverable disease, but for now, Mum continues to manage living independently. More recently, I was invited to design some wall art, using Saal Digital. Stay with me, there is a link between the two. My immediate thought was to use one of my photographs to create a picture for Mum.

What would Mum respond to in a picture? Much has been written about the best decor for dementia care homes. I researched numerous sites from around the world before selecting the final photograph.

Colour is a key element of any image. Yellow is a cheerful colour, which is good for bathrooms. The colour red stimulates brain activity so could provide the theme for a communal area; somewhere that people come together. Apparently blue is the last colour to remain in the human memory. It is also a colour to have a restful and calming effect, recommended to use in quiet rooms and bedrooms. Blue pictures can make rooms seem larger.

In terms of subject matter, simple seems to be the recommended option. Pictures with too much detail could cause confusion or distress. Something which stands out from the wall colour is also important, and nothing with a reflective surface. Nostalgic prints can aid by triggering memories from younger years. Murals of gentle street scenes, such as an old-fashioned sweet shop, help relaxation and memory stimulation. Pictures of nature scenes are easy to look at, as are animal portraits. Simple shapes can be relaxing for the viewer as they do not require memory to analyse the art, and can be coloured to suit the environment.

After much deliberation, I opted for a canvas picture showing blue circles. Blue has always been one of Mum’s favourite colours, so hopefully she will respond positively to the final piece. The photograph is from a set I created called ‘Other Worlds’; the concept behind the pictures being that the viewer can observe the image while their mind drifts. Ideally somewhere relaxing and uplifting.

Part of the agreement with Saal Digital is that I will review both the production process and end product. This will follow in a future post. Until then, I look forward to receiving the print and putting it up in Mum’s home.