Managing Signage During Care Home Renovations & Refurbishments
Renovations and refurbishments are necessary but disruptive for residents with dementia. This guide explains how to maintain effective wayfinding during building works, plan phased signage installation, and minimise the disorientation caused by environmental changes.
Care home renovations -- whether a full refurbishment, wing-by-wing upgrade, or targeted improvement programme -- present a significant challenge for residents with dementia. The familiar environmental cues that support daily orientation are disrupted. Corridors change, rooms move, and the visual landmarks residents rely on disappear. Without careful management, renovation periods see sharp increases in resident confusion, anxiety, falls, and behavioural disturbance. Maintaining effective wayfinding signage throughout the renovation process is essential for minimising these risks.
Pre-Renovation Planning#
Before works begin, document every sign in the building: its location, type, and the route it supports. Identify which signs will be temporarily removed, which will be permanently relocated, and which will remain in place. For each removed sign, plan a temporary replacement using the same colour scheme and imagery. Brief contractors on the importance of signage -- construction teams unfamiliar with dementia care may not understand that removing a toilet sign can cause genuine distress. Include signage management in your renovation method statement.
Renovation signage management checklist:
- Photograph and catalogue all existing signage before works begin
- Provide temporary signs of equivalent quality for any sign that must be removed
- Ensure temporary signs use the same colour scheme and imagery as permanent signs
- Brief contractors that no sign may be removed or obscured without prior agreement
- Plan signage installation for completed areas as soon as trades have finished, not at project end
- Increase staff presence in areas where wayfinding cues have changed
- Monitor resident behaviour and incident reports for signs of renovation-related disorientation
Pro Tip
Consider using decal signs as temporary wayfinding during renovations. They adhere directly to walls, require no drilling, and can be removed cleanly when permanent signage is installed. This avoids fixing into surfaces that may be redecorated.
Phased Installation Strategy#
The most effective approach is to install permanent signage in each area as soon as decoration is complete, rather than waiting until the entire renovation is finished. This means residents in completed areas benefit from new signage immediately, and the disruption period in each zone is minimised. Coordinate with your signage supplier to arrange phased delivery aligned with the construction programme. Most suppliers can accommodate staggered delivery dates if given adequate notice during the ordering process.
Research from the University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies found that environmental changes during renovation are associated with a 40% increase in falls among residents with dementia. Maintaining consistent wayfinding cues is the single most effective mitigation measure.
Recommended Products
Our self-adhesive decal signs provide an ideal temporary wayfinding solution during renovations. Available in all the same designs as our permanent acrylic range, they maintain wayfinding consistency while permanent signs are in storage.
Renovations are an opportunity to upgrade your signage scheme, but the transition must be managed carefully. With proper planning, temporary signage provision, phased installation, and staff awareness, care homes can improve their environment without compromising resident safety during the process.
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