Recent sales at a UK supplier of low cost poster frames show an increase in the supply of easy-change picture door signs, such as snap frames, to the Dementia sector of the care system. This increase is due to the convenience and low cost of these snap-open frames which represent a simple but effective aid to both residents and carers (caregivers) in the Dementia care sector.

Pictures communicate effectively

Picture recognition signs which are mainly for the benefit of Alzheimer’s sufferers are currently available from other sources. Although these are very useful in the aid of a person suffering from memory loss they retail at twenty Pounds or more, and can only be used for one purpose. However an easy-change picture door sign is a reusable option which can cost as little as four to five Pounds each for an attractive A4 snap frame, and just so long as a standard office printer is owned, the frame can be reused as often as required. (A4 is the metric equivalent to US letter size: Pounds is the UK currency).

The Dementia sector seem to be choosing this option within their care homes as with the help of a digital camera a picture along with the person’s name can be printed onto a piece of paper. This is then inserted into a frame which has been either screwed or stuck to a resident’s bedroom door – or alongside the door if preferred. With this simple device residents can be more confident as they do not have to remember exactly which room is theirs. The picture alongside the name will also help them find their friends’ rooms, especially if their friend’s names are forgotten.

Frames in standard paper sizes

The frames can be various sizes although A4 and A5 (half A4) are the most popular when space is required for a picture or photo of the room occupant. The four sides of the frame are snapped open and an in-house printed picture along with name plus some basic information if required can be inserted and the frame snapped closed to hold the information in position. Certain snap frames such as Opti Frames have the same features as a regular snap frame but have rounded tipped corners which can be helpful around a care home environment as they are especially safe in use. Snap frame door signs can be opened easily by staff but do not generally suffer from tampering by those not familiar with the method of opening. The A4 snap frame is ideal if space allows while the A5 frames are more compact but the photo will have to be smaller at 6″x8″ picture size.

Versatile: Update with ease

An attractive feature of the frames to the care home are that when a new resident arrives, all that is needed is a standard office printer and some basic ICT (IT) skills in order to print out the paper insert. This is done at little cost, and when for instance a nursing home patient vacates the room or moves then it is cheap and easy to replace the insert with the new patient’s information. This would therefore be a suitable method for nursing homes supporting temporary patients, or indeed new staff as it will also help them remember patients’ names and room numbers.

These frames can also be used in situations where a picture of a toilet could be inserted along with an arrow pointing in the direction of the toilet or indeed on the toilet door itself. These are effectively acting as sign posts which can help prevent accidents and floor wetting within the care home. The same concept can be used in the instance of a knife and folk for the dining room as well as many similar visual prompts for other rooms within the care home.

One of the main attractions to this use of signage is that it is discreet yet clearly visible. Many dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers initially do not like to admit that they cannot remember which room they reside in, or even where the toilet is. This is therefore a discreet way of giving residents a gentle reminder without making them feel incapable.