The Complete Guide to Dementia-Friendly Signage
A comprehensive introduction to dementia-friendly signage: what makes a sign effective for people living with dementia, why DSDC 1A accreditation matters, and how to plan a complete signage system for your care home.
Dementia-friendly signage is not simply about making signs bigger or brighter. It is a discipline rooted in decades of research into how dementia affects visual perception, cognitive processing, and spatial orientation. The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling has led much of this research, establishing design standards that are now considered the benchmark for care environments worldwide.
What Makes Signage Dementia-Friendly?#
Dementia affects the brain's ability to process visual information. Contrast sensitivity declines, making it harder to distinguish between similar colours. The ability to interpret abstract symbols diminishes, meaning realistic images outperform stylised icons. Reading speed slows, so text must be large, clear, and minimal. And spatial awareness deteriorates, meaning signs must be placed where residents naturally look, not where designers think they look attractive.
Core principles of dementia-friendly sign design:
- High colour contrast between text/image and background (minimum 30-point difference on the LRV scale)
- Realistic photographic or 3D-rendered imagery rather than abstract icons
- Sans-serif typefaces in sentence case at a minimum 48pt equivalent size
- Matt or satin finish to reduce glare under artificial lighting
- Consistent sign placement at 1.4-1.5m centre height throughout the facility
- Tactile elements and optional Braille for residents with visual impairment
- A limited colour palette used consistently across all sign types
Why DSDC 1A Accreditation Matters#
DSDC 1A is the highest accreditation level awarded by the Dementia Services Development Centre. It certifies that a product has been independently evaluated against evidence-based design criteria and found to meet or exceed every standard. For care home operators, specifying DSDC 1A-accredited signage demonstrates a commitment to best practice that is recognised by regulators including the CQC in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland, and HIQA in Ireland.
Pro Tip
When purchasing signage, always ask the supplier for their DSDC accreditation certificate. Accreditation is product-specific, not company-wide, so ensure the exact products you are buying carry the 1A rating.
Planning Your Implementation#
A successful signage implementation starts with a wayfinding audit. Walk every corridor, enter every room, and stand at every junction as a resident would. Note where orientation becomes difficult, where rooms are hard to identify, and where the correct direction is ambiguous. These pain points become your signage priorities. A phased approach -- starting with toilets and communal rooms, then expanding to bedrooms and corridors -- allows you to spread the investment while delivering immediate benefits.
Signage is one of the most cost-effective environmental interventions available to care homes. A complete signage system for a 40-bed home typically costs less than one week of agency staff cover, yet delivers benefits that last for years.
Recommended Products
Our full range of dementia-friendly signs carries DSDC 1A accreditation. Every sign is manufactured from 5mm solid white acrylic with textured 3D print, offering tactile as well as visual information. Optional Braille is available on all products.
"Good signage does not cure dementia. But it removes unnecessary barriers, preserves dignity, and allows people to use the abilities they still have." -- Professor June Andrews, former Director of the DSDC
Dementia-friendly signage is an investment in resident wellbeing, staff efficiency, and regulatory compliance. This guide has introduced the key principles; the articles linked below explore each topic in greater detail.
Related Articles
Understanding DSDC Accreditation: What 1A Means
DSDC 1A is the gold standard for dementia-friendly products. This article explains the accreditation process, what evaluators assess, and how specifying 1A-accredited signage benefits your care home during regulatory inspections.
Colour & Contrast in Dementia-Friendly Design
Dementia reduces contrast sensitivity, making it harder to distinguish between similar colours. This guide explains Light Reflectance Values (LRV), recommended contrast ratios, and how to choose sign colours that remain visible to residents with advancing dementia.
How to Sign Bathrooms & Toilets in a Care Home
Practical guidance on bathroom and toilet signage that reduces continence-related incidents and supports dignity for residents living with dementia.