How personalising interiors improves the lives of people with dementia
Simple and powerful ideas to help people with dementia, looking at 35 years of research findings from around the world.
Improve
True Doors ® decals are person centred care solutions to improve quality of life for elders with dementia, while also transforming cold institutional spaces into warm and familiar homely environments.
Transform
Residents' identities are brought to the fore. Reminiscence and social interaction is stimulated. People recognise and find their own doors. Privacy and sense of safety increases. Facilities feel more like homes.
Create
Save your favourites to create our own catalogue from the largest collection of door decals in the world. Quality photos of actual doors, made-to-measure and applied on flat door surfaces.
Stories
From nursing staff, family members and people with dementia.
This is the kitchen door of where she lived for 40 years. Now it's easier for her to find her room.- W. Steiginga | A family member of a resident at Woonzorggroep Samen Noorderlicht in Hippolytushoef
I love the whole new look given to the wing. It looks clearer, more presentable and has a "cool" feeling, I've observed my husband who' 100 years old, correctly identify his room door. My husband has dementia and I visit the facility daily.- | Wife of resident at Acacia Living Group in Western Australia
Some residents are very proud of their new "old" door. One man remembers the street where his door used to be and he imediately wanted to show his door to his children. Another lady loves to show her door to others. She's so happy with it. I think the doors give the hallway a home-like atmosphere, it looks very cosy. It really adds value to this place!- Sandra Fleuren | Nurse at De Waalboog Verpleeghuis Joachim en Anna in Nijmegen
They now recognise their own front door. I also think it makes them feel more at home.- Raymann | Nurse at De Waalboog Verpleeghuis Joachim en Anna in Nijmegen
My father was a builder, that's why this wooden door got my attention. And I really like the window. My family and I are very creative people, we all love crafts and needlework. I think it is important to stay active, especially when you are my age (95 years). The wreath on my front door is made by myself from old bicycle tubes. I also have a wreath made of sandwich bags, that one is for Easter. I really gave my door a personal touch.- Mw. Arkesteijn | Resident at Pieter van Foreest Weidevogelhof in Pijnacker
The doors are so nice! Each one is so individual to the residents' lives and experiences. Each time we walk past them we talk about them. Certainly does bring a homely feeling.- Terera Brown | Step-daughter of a resident at Nashwaak Villa in New Brunswick, Canada
Enquiries
Contact us if you are interested in a True Door from the collection, if you want to create a personal True Door, or for help with larger scale programs.