When to Use Projecting Signs in Care Homes
Projecting signs mount perpendicular to the wall, making them visible from both directions along a corridor. Discover when and where they deliver the greatest wayfinding benefit in dementia care settings.
Projecting signs -- sometimes called blade signs or flag signs -- mount perpendicular to the wall so that text and imagery face along the corridor rather than toward the viewer standing directly in front. In a care home environment where residents with dementia rely on visual cues to navigate independently, projecting signs can be the difference between confident movement and anxious wandering.
Why Projecting Signs Matter in Dementia Care#
A standard door sign is only legible when you are standing close to the door and facing it. In a long corridor, a resident may pass the correct room without ever noticing the sign. Projecting signs solve this by presenting information along the line of travel, catching attention from 10 metres or more away. Research endorsed by the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) consistently highlights that early visual cueing reduces confusion and supports independent wayfinding.
Situations where projecting signs outperform standard door signs:
- Long corridors where doors are not visible until you are directly alongside them
- T-junctions where residents need to decide which direction to turn
- Recessed doorways that hide standard flat signs from corridor view
- Busy corridors where multiple doors compete for attention
- Areas where lighting creates glare on flat-mounted signs
- Buildings with identical-looking doors on both sides of a hallway
Mounting Position and Height#
DSDC best-practice guidance recommends mounting projecting signs at a centre height of approximately 1.4 to 1.5 metres -- roughly eye level for most seated wheelchair users and still comfortable for ambulant residents. The sign should protrude far enough from the wall to be seen clearly, typically 100-150mm, while remaining flush against the wall bracket to avoid a snag hazard. Our DSDC 1A-accredited projecting signs are manufactured from 5mm solid white acrylic with textured 3D print, providing tactile as well as visual information.
Pro Tip
Install projecting signs on the lock side of the door (the side with the handle) so that the sign and the door handle are on the same side when viewed from the corridor. This reinforces the association between the sign and the room entrance.
Corridor Configurations That Benefit Most#
Not every doorway needs a projecting sign. Focus on locations where a flat door sign would be missed: end-of-corridor toilets, rooms at T-junctions, and communal spaces such as dining rooms or lounges that residents need to find from a distance. For bedrooms, a combination of a personalised door sign and a projecting room-number sign can provide both identity and navigation cues.
Combining projecting and door signs at key locations is a proven strategy in DSDC-accredited care environments. The projecting sign draws attention from afar; the door sign confirms the room identity at close range.
Recommended Products
Our projecting signs are DSDC 1A accredited, printed on 5mm solid white acrylic with textured 3D imagery and optional Braille and tactile elements. Available in a range of high-contrast colour schemes to suit any corridor decor.
Projecting signs are a low-cost, high-impact intervention that can be installed in minutes with standard fixings. For care homes looking to improve CQC, Care Inspectorate, or HIQA inspection ratings through better environmental design, they represent one of the fastest wins available.
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