A Lancashire-based home improvement agency (HIA) has developed a new approach to dementia care that involves sourcing vintage furniture for the homes of people with dementia.

‘Retro-decorating’ and ‘dementia proofing’ are all techniques being used by not-for-profit Hyndburn Homewise Society to help people with dementia live independently in their own homes for longer and reduce the need for anti-psychotic drugs.

Hyndburn Homewise can help residents with dementia choose vintage furniture and items that bring back memories of happy times – such as old transistor radios, 1960s holiday posters or mid-century chairs.

Older style objects make people feel calmer, meaning there is less requirement for medication. They also help individuals to remember their daily routine – such as sitting down for a meal.

The Accrington-based team can also set ‘projects’ for residents with dementia, based on what motivated and excited them in the past. That might be asking an ex-farmer who loved travel to organise a family tour of some farming shows – something that could unlock his state of withdrawal which was brought on by dementia.

The organisation can ‘dementia proof’ homes – re-organising mirrors, fitting open-fronted drawers and glare-free lighting. This supports people with dementia who are sensitive to lighting glare and mirrors or who often forget where objects are stored.

These simple, low cost techniques focus on the fabric of a person’s home and their life-experience rather than drug treatments. Although in its early stages, case workers at Hyndburn Homewise home improvement agency believe this technique will boost the mood, socialisation and short term memory of people with dementia and it is hoped the model will also reduce the need for residential care and hospital admission.

Sue Sinclair, manager of Hyndburn Homewise said: “It’s about getting under the skin of the person, looking at their life experiences and thinking of a strategy that draws upon these aspects to move forward. Simple low-cost, drug-free interventions facilitated by good casework can have a transformative effect on the life of a person living with dementia.”

Andy Chaplin, Director of Foundations, the national body for home improvement agencies said: “Around 750,000 people live with dementia in the UK and this will increase to over 1.7m by 2051. Up to 25 per cent of hospital beds are taken up by people with dementia and reducing the number of beds by 10 per cent could save £1 billion. Low-level interventions such as those being used by Hyndburn Homewise in Lancashire and Riverside Home Improvement Agency in Liverpool could help free up these hospital beds and minimise the need for anti-psychotic medication.”