Navigating Junctions & Decision Points in Care Homes
Junctions are where residents with dementia most frequently become lost. This guide explains how to design decision points that provide clear, unambiguous directional information through signage, landmarks, colour cues, and spatial design.
Every junction in a care home is a decision point where a resident must choose which direction to take. For a person living with dementia, these moments of choice can trigger anxiety, confusion, and disorientation. Research from the DSDC demonstrates that the majority of wayfinding failures occur at junctions rather than along straight corridors. A resident who confidently walks along a hallway may stop, hesitate, or turn the wrong way when they reach a T-junction or crossroads. Designing these critical points with clear, redundant cues is essential to any effective wayfinding strategy.
Understanding Decision Point Behaviour#
When a person with dementia arrives at a junction, they typically look straight ahead first, then scan left and right. If they cannot immediately see a cue that confirms the correct direction, they are likely to either stop (becoming stranded), turn back (retreating to a familiar location), or choose randomly (potentially ending up in a restricted or confusing area). The window of time for providing directional information is very short, typically two to three seconds. Signage and cues must therefore be visible, understandable, and actionable within this brief decision window. Studies from the Karolinska Institute confirm that visible, high-contrast directional signage at junctions reduces wrong-turn incidents by up to 60 percent.
Design principles for dementia-friendly junctions:
- Install projecting signs visible from a distance before the resident reaches the junction
- Use directional signs with clear arrow indicators pointing towards key destinations
- Place distinctive landmarks at each junction to create unique, memorable locations
- Ensure lighting is brighter at junctions than along corridors to draw attention and improve sign visibility
- Avoid placing too many signs at a single junction; prioritise the two or three most important destinations
- Use colour coding on walls or floors to indicate which wing or zone each corridor leads to
Signage Strategy for Junctions#
The most effective junction signage combines three elements: a projecting sign mounted perpendicular to the wall that can be read from a distance, a directional sign on the wall at the junction itself indicating which way to turn, and a destination confirmation sign visible after the turn has been made. This three-stage approach, recommended by the DSDC, ensures that residents receive information before, during, and after the decision point. The projecting sign alerts them that a decision is approaching, the directional sign tells them which way to go, and the confirmation sign reassures them that they made the correct choice.
Recommended Products
Our projecting signs and directional signs are specifically designed for junction navigation. Projecting signs mount perpendicular to the wall for long-distance visibility, while directional signs feature clear arrow indicators alongside iconic imagery. Both are DSDC 1A-accredited and available in oak and walnut finishes to match your existing signage.
Pro Tip
Limit directional signs at each junction to no more than three destinations. Presenting too many options at once creates cognitive overload for residents with dementia. Prioritise the most commonly needed destinations: toilets, dining room, and the resident's bedroom wing.
Landmarks at Decision Points#
A distinctive landmark at each junction transforms an anonymous intersection into a recognisable place. This might be a piece of artwork, a display cabinet with familiar objects, a distinctive piece of furniture, or a change in wall colour. The landmark must be unique to that junction; if the same item appears at multiple junctions, it loses its orienting value. The DSDC recommends involving residents in choosing landmark items, as objects with personal or cultural significance are more memorable than generic decorative items. A grandfather clock at one junction, a bookcase at another, and a display of local photographs at a third creates a series of distinct locations that residents can learn and recognise.
Design audit tip
Stand at each junction in your care home and count the number of visible cues that indicate direction. If you count fewer than two clear cues at any junction, that decision point needs improvement. Effective junctions provide redundant information through multiple channels: signage, colour, landmarks, and spatial design working together.
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