We cannot imagine our world without all the beautiful colours! When it comes to ageing we usually think of our loved ones experiencing physical and mental ageing, but it is often overlooked how eyesight decline can affect their day-to-day living. Many ageing adults find it difficult to see the difference between colours of a similar shade. Creating high contrast colours in table settings, seating, carpeting, and bathroom features may help the elderly with poor vision navigate more easily.
Being able to clearly see the chair in contrast to the colour of the carpet or more easily distinguish between a spoon and a fork eases any added stress when completing tasks. Bold and contrasting colours can help your loved one complete a task on their own, giving them a sense of freedom and independency. It also help Live-in Carers do their job better as it will be easier for them to use the right items for a specific task.
Various colours have a psychological and physical impact on all of us. While everyone reacts to colours differently, a number of factors influence that reaction, such as culture, gender, age, emotional and mental state, specific experiences and mood. Decorating and colours might not be your priority when looking for where your Mother or Father are going to live. Yet, the intentional use and placement of colours can play an important role in both your family member's mental health and physical wellbeing.
Every season comes with a change of colours in nature. People change the colour of the clothes they wear. This can have a significant impact on your moods.
We cannot control what hue the oak tree turns or the reds in the sunset, but we can control the colour scheme in your home and make use of colour therapy! Here we look at how colour affects our moods, and we and Home Carers can use colour therapy to boost the energy in any space in an elderly persons home.
Red for Energy
Have you noticed how much of red is used in restaurants, from dinner booths to the logos of virtually every fast-food restaurant...? This is because it pumps up the heart rate, making people feel excited and ready to eat! Red is a great colour for a breakfast nook in the winter. It keeps people from feeling sluggish as their day starts. Try a bright red tablecloth, red accents on your windowsills, or full red walls if they fit your design scheme!
Soft Blue for Calm
You see a lot of soft blue in spas and bathrooms because it relaxes and provides calming effects, evoking images of the ocean. Using these colours in bedrooms can make a room feel cool. Consider soft blue throw blankets for your couch in the summer and spring. Soft blue cushions on kitchen chairs are great in the summer, enhancing a leisurely lunch.
Green for Comfort
If you watch any film adaptation of a Jane Austen novel, you will see reading rooms smothered in green, mostly deep or emerald tones. In colour psychology, green is great for a room that needs to convey comfort and relaxation. It makes a connection to nature and works during any season. Paint the walls of your entertainment room green, or consider green velvet day beds.
Brown for Safety
Brown instantly makes a room feel like a cocoon - cozy and tucked away. It is a wonderful bit of colour therapy elderly can use in the autumn. Cocoa is a nice choice because it feels indulgent, like chocolate. Consider brown accent pillows and rugs in a room where friends and family gather - like the living room.
Purple for Creativity
Purple has been used in Royal homes for years and years. It stimulates the creative part of the brain, helping you create poems, paint, write, or do whatever your creative mind dictates. Use it in an office or crafts room. We will not recommend to use it in your bedroom, as it will make you feel alert when you seek calm. Stick to lavender in the summer, but deeper hues in the autumn and winter. Light purple in the colder months can make a room feel chilly and lifeless so that is one to avoid!
Orange for Appetite
If your favourite way to pass the cold winter months is by cooking up delicious roasts and pies, why not paint your kitchen orange? It will increase your appetite! But stick to burnt or deep oranges. For that same reason, avoid orange in any areas where you get rest, although colour psychology suggests that mild orange can make a room feel sleepy. You can use it during any season!
White for Space
White gives a room an airy feeling, making it appear larger than it is. It is ideal for compact spaces all year round, but it is especially nice in rooms with large windows during the summer. The natural light combined with the white walls make the room feel very open.
Each of these colours have various shades, depending on their mix. The effect of each shade depends on the dominant colour in the mix. The change in seasons, with temperature peaks and falls, and alternating foliage, can be beautiful. Colour therapy for elderly can help them regain control of the environment inside their home, and make it feel like their favourite season all year long.
Our team of highly qualified and carefully selected Live-in Carers are here to provide comprehensive support, ensuring your loved ones can comfortably stay in their own homes while receiving the home care they deserve. With our Domiciliary Care services, you can experience genuine peace of mind, knowing that your parents or dear ones are receiving exceptional 24 hour care.
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