Creating Personalised Spaces: The Impact on Resident Wellbeing
A care home bedroom is more than a room -- it is often the last private space a person with dementia calls their own. Personalising that space with familiar objects, photographs, and a sign that bears their name transforms an institutional door into the entrance to their home.
Personalisation is a cornerstone of person-centred dementia care, as defined by the late Professor Tom Kitwood and developed by the Bradford Dementia Group. Yet personalisation extends beyond how staff interact with residents -- it encompasses the physical environment. Research consistently shows that when residents can identify their personal space, when their bedroom door is marked with their name and a familiar image, and when their room contains objects that connect them to their life history, their wellbeing improves measurably. Personalised spaces reduce agitation, improve sleep, and increase positive engagement.
Why Personalisation Matters in Dementia#
Dementia affects recent memory far more than long-term memory, particularly in the early and middle stages. A resident may not remember that they moved into the care home six months ago, but they recognise a photograph of their wedding day, their grandchildren, or their former home. When these familiar elements are incorporated into their bedroom doorway -- through a personalised sign, a memory box, or a displayed photograph -- they create a powerful anchor. The resident sees something they recognise, feels a connection to their identity, and knows they have arrived at their own space. This moment of recognition occurs dozens of times each day and contributes to a pervasive sense of belonging.
Evidence-based approaches to personalising resident spaces:
- Personalised door signs with the resident's preferred name (not their formal name unless they prefer it)
- A familiar photograph from the resident's life displayed at or near their bedroom door
- Memory boxes outside the room containing objects that reflect the resident's interests and history
- A consistent sign colour or style that the resident has helped choose where possible
- Interior room personalisation with familiar furniture, bedding, or objects from home
- Involving family members in selecting photographs and objects for personalisation
The Evidence for Personalised Environments#
The DSDC's design guidelines specifically recommend personalised door markers as a key element of dementia-friendly bedroom design. Research published by the Bradford Dementia Group found that residents with personalised bedroom doorways showed 40% fewer episodes of entering the wrong room compared to residents with standard room numbers. The Alzheimer's Society's guidance on care home design emphasises that personalisation helps maintain a sense of identity -- a psychological need identified in Kitwood's model of person-centred care as fundamental to wellbeing.
Pro Tip
When a new resident is admitted, ask their family to bring three items: a photograph for the door sign, a small object for a memory display, and a note about what the resident prefers to be called. These three elements can transform an anonymous room into a personal space within hours of admission.
A personalised bedroom door is often the first thing a family sees when visiting their loved one. It signals that the care home sees their relative as an individual, not a room number. This first impression significantly affects family confidence and satisfaction with care.
Recommended Products
Our personalised signs combine the resident's chosen name with a personal photograph, all within a DSDC 1A-accredited design framework. Available in oak and walnut finishes, they provide both effective wayfinding and meaningful personalisation at every bedroom door.
"Mrs. Henderson would walk past her room ten times a day. When we put her wedding photograph on her door sign, she started stopping and smiling every time she passed. Within a week, she was finding her room independently again." -- Activities Coordinator, Care Home, Devon
Creating personalised spaces is one of the most emotionally impactful and cost-effective interventions available to care homes. It requires minimal investment, involves families in a meaningful way, and delivers measurable improvements in resident orientation, wellbeing, and sense of identity. For residents with dementia, a personalised doorway is not decoration -- it is a daily affirmation that they are known, valued, and at home.
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