Supporting New Residents: Wayfinding During the Transition Period
Moving into a care home is one of the most disorientating experiences for a person with dementia. This guide provides practical strategies for supporting new residents during the transition period, including orientation programmes, personalised wayfinding aids, and staff approaches.
Moving into a care home is profoundly disorienting for any person, but for someone living with dementia, the transition can be overwhelming. Every spatial reference point they relied upon, the layout of their home, the route to the bathroom, the view from their window, is suddenly replaced by an entirely unfamiliar environment. Research from the Alzheimer's Society shows that the first four weeks after admission are the highest-risk period for wandering, falls, anxiety, and behavioural symptoms, all of which are closely linked to wayfinding difficulties. A structured orientation programme during this critical period can significantly improve outcomes.
The First 48 Hours#
During the first 48 hours, focus on the three most essential routes: bedroom to bathroom, bedroom to dining room, and bedroom to the nearest lounge. Walk each route with the new resident multiple times, pointing out signs, landmarks, and colour cues along the way. Use consistent verbal descriptions that reference environmental features ('Your room has the blue door with the flower sign; the toilet is the next door on the left with the green sign'). The DSDC recommends a minimum of three accompanied walks along each essential route during the first day, with repetition at different times to build familiarity under varying lighting conditions.
Orientation support strategies for new residents:
- Install the resident's personalised door sign before they arrive so their room is identifiable from day one
- Place a familiar personal object outside their door as a landmark (a family photograph, a favourite ornament)
- Walk essential routes with the resident at least three times daily during the first week
- Create a simple visual route card showing the path from bedroom to key destinations, using photographs of landmarks along the way
- Brief all staff, including night staff, on the resident's room location and any specific wayfinding challenges
- Schedule a wayfinding check at two weeks and four weeks after admission to assess progress and adjust support
Personalising the Environment#
The more personal and recognisable a new resident's immediate environment is, the faster they will build spatial confidence. A personalised door sign with their name and a familiar colour or image provides an anchor that distinguishes their room from all others. A memory box or display shelf outside their door, filled with familiar objects chosen by the resident and their family, creates a personal landmark that is both functionally useful and emotionally comforting. Inside the room, orienting the bed, chair, and personal items in a way that echoes the resident's previous bedroom layout can reduce night-time disorientation.
Recommended Products
Our personalised door signs can be ordered in advance of a new resident's arrival, ensuring their room is identifiable and welcoming from the moment they arrive. Available in oak and walnut finishes with DSDC 1A-accredited design, each sign features the resident's name in clear, high-contrast typography alongside iconic imagery.
Pro Tip
Ask the resident's family about any specific wayfinding strategies the person used at home. Some people naturally navigate by landmarks, others by colour, and others by verbal instructions. Understanding the resident's pre-existing wayfinding preferences allows you to tailor support during the transition period.
Staff Consistency During Transition#
Wherever possible, assign consistent staff members to support the new resident during the first two weeks. When the same carer walks the same routes using the same verbal cues, the resident builds familiarity faster than when different staff use different approaches. Brief all team members on the orientation plan, but designate a named key worker who takes primary responsibility for wayfinding support. This consistency extends to night staff, who should be aware of the new resident's bedroom location, likely bathroom needs, and any specific wayfinding challenges observed during the day.
Quality indicator
The transition period is closely scrutinised during regulatory inspections. CQC inspectors in England specifically assess how care homes support new residents during the settling-in period, including environmental orientation. A documented orientation programme with dated progress reviews demonstrates person-centred, responsive care.
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