A Maritime hospital is helping ease the anxieties and frustrations of dementia patients with the use of a paintbrush.
Wandering is common for those with dementia. Many patients often try to leave their care facility in hopes of going home, then become focused on seeing a door and not being able to open it.
“Working here on the dementia care unit, we do see a variety of different behaviours from people pacing up and down to walking towards the doors and rattling and shaking,” says recreation therapist Emily A’Court.
A’Court works on the dementia unit at Halifax's QEII Hospital, where staff took an artistic approach to help ease patient frustration and anxiety. They painted a mural over the main door, making it blend in. Research shows this kind of exit diversion can reduce agitation and confusion among patients.
“We had, in the past, individuals that would go up to the door and sort of rattle and shake on the bar only to find out the door wouldn't open. Perhaps they were following a family member just following a visit and following them out and that could be kind of frustrating for people when the door doesn't open,” says A’Court.
Since she painted the mural, A’Court says there have been fewer residents hanging around the door, helping to reduce their overall frustration.
Elsie Rolls is the hospital's director of veteran services. She has also noticed the mural's positive impact.
“Overall it just makes them feel better, it makes them happier. It certainly doesn't instigate feelings of anger or anything like that because they're stuck,” says Rolls.
Exit diversion can also help lower the risk of patients wandering and potentially getting lost, as well as reducing the number of falls and injuries.
“People come in and out of those doors all the time. So standing by the door's really not a great place to be,” says A’Court.
Research shows replicating a familiar piece of furniture can help the doorway blend into the environment, so cabinetry was specifically chosen as the focus of the mural at the QEII.
“It doesn't necessarily lure people into the painting, but rather just acts as a nice sort of backdrop,” says A’Court.
It also helps create a home-like feel.
“Most of us want to feel comfortable and warm and welcome in our own home place, so having sorts of touches around us that remind us home is important,” says A’Court.
The mural was funded by a QEII Foundation comfort and care grant.
Rolls says they are also using grant money to create more murals on the walls of the unit to help liven up the space.
