Colour Perception in People with Dementia

Dementia affects the brain in many different ways. But did you know it has an impact on how people perceive colour?

How Thoughtful Design Can Create a Positive Experience

Certain colours can improve quality of life in people with dementia, while the wrong shades or combinations can cause anxiety, confusion, overwhelm, and distress.

Learn more about the connection between colour and dementia to see how you can create a more positive experience at home or in a dementia care setting. 

What’s the connection between colour and dementia?

If you’re living with dementia or you’re a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related condition, it’s important to understand how colour can affect them.

For example, blue can be a positive, calming effect, when used in the right way.

Meanwhile, black floor tiles or doormats can sometimes feel like a hole in the ground for someone with dementia, causing anxiety and fear.

Other colours can be difficult to distinguish for people living with dementia, making it harder to read signs or spot important information. 

The relationship between colour perception and dementia comes down to the changes occurring in the brain. In dementia, the brain experiences damage to the parts responsible for processing visual information.  

In fact, research has shown that a decline in colour detection can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Learn more about how dementia affects different parts of the brain.

Situations where colour is important in dementia

Here are some examples of situations where the colours chosen can help people living with dementia to improve their quality of life.

Wayfinding

Using contrasting colours for doors, signs, handrails, and steps can improve accessibility and prevent accidents.

Interior design

Thoughtful use of colour in domestic or care home settings can make people feel more comfortable, calm, and content.

Everyday objects

Certain bright colours can make everyday objects like cooking utensils easier to locate and use.

Food presentation

Using contrasting bold colours for plates and cutlery can make food stand out more and encourage people with waning appetites to find a renewed interest and comfort in food.

Independent living 

Choosing bold bathroom wall colours, toilet seats, or grab rails can help people with dementia to use facilities with confidence and independence.

Sleep 

Our surroundings can affect how we sleep with or without dementia, and people living with memory conditions can particularly struggle to switch off and rest.

Opting for calm, peaceful blues and greys and avoiding overly stimulating colours can promote better sleep in dementia.

Essential items

Individuals living with dementia can often misplace essential items like their keys or mobile phone, so choosing bold coloured keyrings and phone cases can make them easier to locate, avoiding stress and anxiety.

The importance of colour contrast for people with dementia

It’s not just about choosing the right colours to improve quality of life for someone living with dementia – contrast is also key.

People with dementia have a 40% lower contrast sensitivity compared to healthy older adults. 

A lack of contrast between colours can make it confusing to identify different items and objects, causing worry and even accidents.

So, bear in mind the benefit of contrasting shades to clearly distinguish items around the home or relevant spaces.

Dementia friendly colours

Clear primary colours can help with dementia when used properly. 

1. Blue

Calming and anxiety-reducing, blue is great for bedrooms and other quiet areas, which is why it’s often used in healthcare or therapeutic environments. 

In fact, research shows blue light can lower blood pressure.

2. Green

Natural greens can be soothing and peaceful when used in living spaces – they remind us of the outdoors and bring that sense of tranquillity we experience outside.

Brighter shades, like lime green, should be used sparingly, but can come in handy for wayfinding when paired with the right contrasting colours to stand out clearly.

3. Red 

Red can be useful for dementia, highlighting important information (like warning signs) and even increasing appetite. 

However, it can increase agitation and overstimulation, so should be used sparingly and with contrasting shades. 

4. Yellow

Our personal favourite!

Sunshine yellow is usually considered to be an uplifting, positive colour, without being overstimulating. Yellow is linked to happiness and can enhance mental clarity, making it a good choice for areas where activity and interaction are encouraged.

5. Neutrals 

Neutral colours like beige, greys, and creams can be useful for people with dementia.

They act as a calming backdrop to make bolder coloured items stand out, reducing overstimulation, confusion and distress.

Colours and effects to avoid when caring for people with dementia

1. Dark colours 

Dark colours like black, dark grey, and navy can appear like holes to people with dementia, causing confusion, concern, or anxiety – especially when used in flooring.

2. Shiny or reflective surfaces

Shiny, reflective, or metallic surfaces emit a glare, distorting visual perception and causing discomfort and confusion for people with dementia.

3. Bright or neon colours

While bold colours can be great for contrast, overly bright or neon colours can overstimulate and overwhelm, elevating agitation and anxiety levels. 

4. Pure white

Pure white can be disorienting because people with dementia may struggle to differentiate between objects and walls without any contrast.

5. Busy patterns 

Multi-coloured or patterned surfaces can be visually overwhelming, causing confusion which can lead to navigational difficulties. 

This can be stressful and raise anxiety in people with dementia. 

Dementia-friendly game design 

Now you have an insight into colour perception in dementia, we hope you can take it into consideration to create positive spaces and experiences. 

Colour is something we thought about very carefully when designing our popular conversation game, Matching Memories. 

It’s designed for people with dementia both visually and in terms of gameplay, using contrasting colours, clear visual illustrations, and large text for easy reading.  

If you haven’t already tried it, give it a go! It’s a lovely way to encourage meaningful interaction (and fun!) with loved ones or in a care setting as dementia progresses and connection becomes more challenging. 

Check out Matching Memories and our other dementia friendly games and activities.