Moving into a care home can be a big adjustment, but small personal touches can make all the difference in helping your loved one feel comfortable and settled. While care homes provide essential care and safety, it’s the familiar surroundings and personal items that truly create a sense of home. Fortunately, all care homes welcome families to personalise their loved one’s bedrooms to make them feel as much like home as possible.
Here’s how you can personalise a care home room to make it warm, familiar, and reassuring.
1. Bring Familiar Items from Home
One of the easiest ways to create comfort is by bringing items your loved one already cherishes. This might include:
- Favourite photographs in familiar frames
- A special blanket or cushion
- A well-loved chair (if space allows)
- Books, ornaments, or small keepsakes
These personal items provide continuity and reassurance, especially for those living with dementia, where familiarity is crucial for reducing anxiety.
2. Add Soft Furnishings & Textures
Many care homes provide standard furniture, but adding throws, cushions, or soft rugs can make the space feel less clinical and more inviting. Choose textures and colours your loved one enjoys—soft, warm fabrics can provide a sense of comfort and security.
3. Personalise the Walls
Most care homes allow residents to hang photos, artwork, or wall decorations. Creating a photo collage of family, pets, and past memories can be a wonderful way to make the space feel familiar and uplifting. If your loved one has a favourite painting or print, consider bringing a framed copy.
4. Keep a Familiar Scent
Smell is a powerful trigger for memory and emotion. Bringing a familiar-scented hand cream, a favourite perfume, or a diffuser with a soothing scent like lavender can make the room feel more like home. Always check with the care home about their policies on scented items.
5. Make Use of Technology
A digital photo frame that rotates through cherished family photos can be a great alternative if wall space is limited. If your loved one enjoys music, consider a small, easy-to-use radio or a device pre-loaded with their favourite songs. Hearing familiar voices and tunes can bring great comfort.
6. Maintain a Routine with Personal Items
Encourage your loved one to keep small rituals and routines—whether it’s reading a particular newspaper, enjoying a morning cup of tea in their favourite mug, or using a well-worn dressing gown. These small details help maintain a sense of normality.
7. Seasonal Touches & Special Occasions
Decorating the space with seasonal items, such as a small Christmas decoration, a birthday card display, or a simple vase of fresh flowers, can help maintain a connection to time and traditions.
8. Encourage Personal Choice
Finally, involve your loved one in decisions about their space as much as possible. Even small choices, like picking a new bedspread or choosing where to place a photo, can give them a sense of control and ownership over their environment.
By making these thoughtful adjustments, you can help transform a care home room into a comforting and familiar space, improving well-being and emotional security. A care home should feel like a new chapter, not the end of one—and the right personal touches can make all the difference.