WE NEED TO ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE PERSON, NOT THE ILLNESS Gun Aremyr is particular with her words since what we say helps shape our reality. To create sustainable, health-promoting environments for people with dementia, we need to see and focus on the person, not the illness. “The individual’s entire life story needs to play a part in healthcare,” she says. GUN AREMYR, EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF DEMENTIA
It is all too easy to make assumptions about the world
with the opportunity to choose between listening to music
and other people based on our own experiences and needs.
or having a nice view of nature,” she says.
When it comes to people with dementia, this can easily
Interior design should also contribute to a sense of security,
go wrong, especially if you fall into the trap of seeing
for example, through inclusive furniture that is stable
them as a group rather than as individuals.
and upholstered in single-colour fabric as small patterns
“Even if a person’s needs and conditions for living a good life change as a cause of dementia, their unique life story
can be perceived as insects by people with dementia. “Even the placement of furniture affects how a room is
is always with them and needs to be reflected in the physical
perceived. Having furniture facing each other can be considered
environment they live in. We need to always focus
provocative so it can be better to place them a bit off centre from
on the person, not the illness,” says Gun Aremyr.
each other. It can feel safe to sit in a corner so sofas with armrests in the middle can be good. And naturally, furniture should not be
A physical environment that smells nice, is aesthetically pleasing and is welcoming signals that the person living in it is worthy of having nice surroundings. It can also contribute to lowering blood pressure and reducing the need for pain treatment.
obstructive.” THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SENSES When it comes to muscular and joint sensory input, she recommends robust furniture for sitting whose height makes it easy to get up and down. This helps give a sense of independence and the opportunity to manage without assistance. Also, by changing one’s sitting position, you activate your muscles and reduce pressure. Gun Aremyr adds two senses to the usual five senses of seeing, hearing, touch, smell and taste – muscular/joint sensory input and balance.
Gun has worked in the area of dementia since the end of
“When a person’s balance deteriorates, it is important to
the 1980s and has encountered a great number of people
have solid furniture that you can support yourself against.
and environments in her roles as work therapist, consultant
Easy chairs that rock stimulate your sense of balance and have
for relatives, lecturer and author. And she is sure of one thing:
a calming effect, so rocking chairs can be a positive addition,”
a well-planned physical environment makes life easier for people
says Gun Aremyr.
with cognitive impairment in a number of different ways. “For instance, people with dementia have a greater need of
Rooms that are visually calm and organised have a healing effect. For example, colours that differentiate wash room
rest and they need to recuperate several times a day for their
doors, toilet seats and light switches help a person navigate
brains to keep functioning. Easy chairs placed along a hallway
and increase their sense of freedom and independence.
can provide balance between rest and activity, preferably 8
“In contrast, closed doors can give a feel of confinement
