If you’re looking for a safe and homelike environment for your loved one with dementia, a Sonida Senior Living community could be your answer.
At our Sonida Senior Living communities around the United States, we offer memory care services as part of a specialized program called Magnolia Trails™. Our Magnolia Trails memory care program consists of five pillars of care that were developed in partnership with healthcare professionals and memory care experts.
Let’s do a deep dive into the second pillar of care, Creating the Environment. This pillar states: “We take great strides to create physical spaces that feel fresh and familiar where our residents are engaged and calm. By adjusting the decor, sounds, smells, touch and taste, we strive to make your loved one feel as comfortable as possible.”
To learn more about Magnolia Trails’ first pillar of care, Focusing on Care First, read our blog here.
Designing spaces for comfort and calm
It’s a fact that the physical layout of a room affects a person’s mental and emotional well-being. This sentiment rings true for seniors who live in our memory care communities. Magnolia Trails communities are designed to feel less like a clinical setting and more like a fresh and familiar space.
As memory care educator, Rachael Wonderlin explains, “Dementia care design needs to meet residents living with dementia where they are. The physical space needs to reflect the internal reality of each person, and for most people living with dementia, that reality is not the year 2025.”
You may notice a unique design choice when visiting our memory care communities: there are no visible exit signs. Instead, all exit doors look like bookshelves or some other static image. This helps prevent residents from fixating on leaving, which may lead to frustration or anxiety. All doors and entryways are secured and monitored to ensure resident safety.
Another critical aspect of our memory care environment is lighting. People living with dementia often experience disruptions in their circadian rhythms, which can cause confusion and restlessness. To counteract this, our memory care communities are well-lit during the daytime, including hallways, bathrooms and common areas. In the evenings, the lights are dimmed to signal the end of the day, mirroring the natural progression of sunlight. Proper lighting helps reinforce daily routines, reducing instances of disorientation and promoting restful sleep.
Engaging the five senses
Calming scents, familiar textures and nostalgic music all work together to make our Magnolia Trails residents feel at ease and engaged in their environment.
Here are some of the ways we incorporate the five senses into our memory care communities:
- Sound: We play music from our residents’ generation, whether that be from the 1940s, 50s or 60s.
- Touch: Fabrics and materials used in our decor are chosen carefully. They are soft to the touch, feature soothing colors and avoid overwhelming patterns that could cause distress.
- Sight: Interactive Life Stations offer opportunities for engagement, such as caring for a life-like baby or animal, which provides a sense of purpose. Our communities also have safe and accessible outdoor spaces.
- Taste: Food is a crucial part of our communities. We serve meals that reflect familiar flavors from our residents’ past, often incorporating elements of the local cuisine to provide nostalgia.
- Smell: Pleasant scents such as lavender, vanilla and lemon are used in common areas of the community.
The role of shadow boxes
When a new resident moves into one of our memory care communities, a Magnolia Trails staff member will request photos from their family to create a shadow box. Instead of using present-day photos, we collect pictures from the residents’ younger years, typically their teens, 20s or 30s. Every resident has a personalized shadow box by the door of their room.
Why is this important? Memory care experts have found that many individuals living with dementia experience a phenomenon called reminiscence bump, meaning they often recall memories from their early life more clearly than recent events. Having a shadow box filled with familiar images and personal memorabilia can:
- Help residents recognize their own space more easily.
- Spark positive memories and feelings of self-identity.
- Serve as a conversation starter between residents, caregivers and visiting family members.
Find a Magnolia Trails memory care community near you
Creating a home-like environment for individuals with dementia requires thoughtful design, sensory engagement and compassionate care. At Sonida Senior Living, we are committed to ensuring our Magnolia Trails residents feel safe, comfortable and valued through an environment tailored to their unique needs. Find a Magnolia Trails community near you.