Dementia Action Week is the Alzheimer’s Society’s annual awareness campaign asking everyone to ‘take actions big and small to improve the lives of people affected by dementia’.
In support of this, Dulux Trade has launched its new evidence-based Healthcare Colour Palette as part of its commitment to ensuring that all healthcare environments are as dementia friendly as possible.
While colour is often a secondary thought in the creation of new healthcare facilities; research has revealed that incorporating it into the overall design has the potential to significantly affect the wellbeing of patients and staff alike.
The new Healthcare Colour Palette from Dulux Trade is based on extensive research and offers hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, ready-made solutions to ensure a successful design finish.
In collaboration with Procure22 (P22) and Tarkett Flooring, this comprehensive colour scheming tool will help hospitals improve interior environments across a variety of room types – including enhanced accessibility for patients living with dementia and other mental health conditions.
With one in four patients in acute hospitals living with dementia, it is increasingly important for hospital interiors to recognise this and adapt what is necessary to become dementia friendly.
P22 represents the third iteration of the Department of Health’s framework providing design and construction services for the NHS and social care organisations.
Building on the principles of its predecessors, P22 looks to streamline the procurement process and strengthen working relationships between clients, principal supply chain partners (PCSPs) and their supply chains – increasing efficiency, enhancing clinical outputs for patients and improving environments for both staff and visitors.
The new interactive Healthcare Colour Palettes, endorsed by the Department of Health, include a design matrix that has grouped key improvements into four different areas:
- Improve the wellbeing and positive attitude of patients
- Improve healing and recovery rates
- Improve efficiency of care
- Improve staff morale and retention
Users can then follow the detailed application flowchart to ensure they benefit from all that the palettes have to offer.
Alongside best practice guidance, the Equality Act-compliant colour palettes provide a number of top tips to further aid the design from specification through to completion.
Product specifications have also been included to ensure the Healthcare Colour Palettes provide specifiers with ready-made colour and product solutions they can be confident in.