How to make home care more enjoyable
Care at home can be beautiful - and for everyone involved
When you're caring for a loved one at home, you know: It's not just about medical care. It's about everyday life, closeness, safety - and making sure that everyone feels comfortable - the person in need of care as well as you.
However, in everyday care work there is often a lack of time, energy - and sometimes even ideas. This is precisely why we have put together some loving and practical tips for you on how to transform your home into a safe, liveable and warm-hearted environment. Many of these ideas cost little, but make a big difference. Because beautiful care begins with small gestures - and the firm conviction that there is room for dignity, joy and connection in everyday life too.
Why rituals are so important for dementia
Dementia doesn't just cause memory loss - it changes the perception of space, time and social relationships. What is commonplace for others can quickly become confusing or frightening for those affected. This is precisely why stable daily structures and familiar rituals indispensable.
Structure creates security - new every day
A regular daily routine provides stability. When things happen "as usual", it is easier for people with dementia to find their bearings. This reduces restlessness, prevents anxiety and strengthens the feeling of control over one's own living environment.
What specifically helps:
- Fixed times for getting up, mealtimes, rest periods and bedtimes
- Recurring rituals like an afternoon coffee at 3pm
- A familiar voice that accompanies the day in a friendly way - for example by greeting you in the morning or setting the table together
According to the German Alzheimer's Association (2024), a stable daily routine not only helps those affected - family caregivers also benefit from the relief and better planning in everyday life.
Activating tasks maintain self-esteem
Care doesn't just mean providing - it also means enabling. People with dementia often have a deep need to feel useful. Tasks that are familiar and used to be done as a matter of course give back a sense of autonomy and dignity.
Examples from everyday life:
These small, symbolic activities should not be underestimated: According to a study by MedUni Vienna (2023), regular activating tasks improve both mood and social skills in people with dementia - especially when done in a calm environment and with positive reinforcement.
Nora's tip: Rituals don't have to be big or elaborate - on the contrary: the simpler, the better. Making a cup of tea together, opening the window in the morning or looking at a family photo at the breakfast table every day - these are all valuable rituals that provide structure and create closeness.
Nora's tip: And if you lack the strength for everyday life: Caregivers, who you can find via noracares, not only have specialist knowledge, but also patience, a wealth of ideas and experience in dealing with dementia. Together, you can develop new rituals - individual, loving and safe.
Talk, listen, strengthen memories
Conversations as a bridge to the past
For many people with dementia, current events fade quickly - but Memories of the past often remain surprisingly vivid. Stories about earlier stages of life, old professions or one's own childhood are like small islands in everyday life - they bring back orientation, comfort and a piece of identity.
What you can do:
- ask specifically: "What was it like in your apprenticeship?" or "Tell me again about our summer vacation in Carinthia."
- Use photos and objects: An old family album, a music track from your youth or a familiar object like grandma's teapot - all of these can evoke memories.
- Let stories tell you multiple times: Even if you've heard the anecdote about the dance in 1967 many times before - listen to it as if it were the first time. It's a valuable moment for the other person.
According to a study by German Alzheimer's Association (2024), biographical storytelling has a stabilizing effect, reduces depressive moods and strengthens the self-esteem of people with dementia.
Empathy instead of correction
Dementia changes language and logic - but the need for recognition and connection remains. If statements seem confused or "not right", it is more important to recognize the emotion behind what is being said than to insist on correctness of content.
An example from everyday life:
When your mom says: "I have to go to work now, the kids are waiting."
Don't say: "You're not even working anymore."
But rather: "What was your favorite thing to do at work back then?"
→ This way you stay in emotional contact without correcting - and show: I'm listening to you. You are important to me.
Body language and proximity often have a stronger effect than words
A gentle stroke on the arm, a smile or a reassuring tone of voice - all of these can help when words alone are no longer enough. In advanced dementia in particular nonverbal communication is becoming increasingly important. Studies from nursing science show: Touching, eye contact and recurring rituals can reduce anxiety and promote a sense of security.
What you should avoid:
- Don't keep correcting. It usually only leads to frustration.
- Don't ask test questions like "Do you remember who that is?" - this can be embarrassing.
- Stay calm, even if repetitions or contradictions are exhausting.
Nora's tip: Language is more than words - it's connection. Nurses, who you can find via noracares, not only have specialist knowledge, but also a keen sense of empathetic communication. Together, you can develop routines that turn conversations into a beneficial bridge - between past, present and heart.
Living room design: safe and homely at the same time
Safety first
Your own four walls are supposed to give you a sense of security - but they also harbor risks. The risk of falls or accidents increases considerably, especially for older people or those in need of care.
According to the Austrian Road Safety Board (2024), over 80% of all accidents involving senior citizens occur in the home environment - primarily due to tripping and slipping. However, these can be significantly reduced with simple measures:
- Remove less rugs, lying around cables or Doorsteps.
- Install Motion Detector with integrated light function - they provide safety when walking at night and signal when someone is moving at night.
- Bringe Handrails in the bath, shower and WC - they help you stand up and provide safety when walking.
- Safe sharp, fragile or dangerous objects such as knives, scissors or cleaning materials - preferably out of reach or in lockable cupboards.
These simple adjustments not only reduce the risk of accidents - they also give relatives and carers more peace of mind in their everyday lives.
Facilitating orientation
Changes are often difficult - especially for people with dementia. Therefore: Keep the familiar, integrate the new slowly.
How orientation is supported:
- Labeling drawers, doors and cabinets, e.g. with symbols or large, clear text. e.g. with symbols or large, high-contrast words (e.g. "WC", "cups", "sweater").
- Favorite furniture or familiar objects preserve - they provide security and have a calming effect.
- If necessary conversions: proceed in small steps and introduce new elements slowly.
Good to know: According to the Alzheimer's Research Initiative (2024) effect visual stimuli such as bright colors, clear shapes or familiar images have a positive effect on the emotional well-being and orientation of People with dementia.
Preserve personality: Decoration with meaning
What makes a home a home?
A care room can be functionally equipped - without personal elements, it often remains a neutral space. What breathes life into a place are memories, colors, smells and familiar objects. They help you not to lose yourself - especially in old age or with dementia.
Little things with a big impact:
- Photos by grandchildren, old friends or Travel that are associated with moments of happiness.
- Favourite plants on the windowsill - e.g. a fragrant&. For example, a fragrant Geranium that has always been on the balcony.
- The old coffee cup or a hand-crocheted doily from your youth - seemingly inconspicuous, but emotionally priceless.
Studies of the University of Vienna (2023) show: Plants, colors and scents promote the emotional well-being and orientation of people with cognitive impairments. Bright, friendly colors without strong patterns, natural materials such as wood or linen and warm light (e.g. from salt lamps) have a calming and secure effect.
Example from everyday life:
Mr. Wenzel, 82, lives with vascular dementia at his daughter's home. Ever since he saw his beloved coffee grinder on the sideboard again - the same one that used to be used every Sunday morning - he has started the day with a smile. "It still smells the same," he says. For him, it's not a decoration - it's a piece of identity.
Separating professional and private life - despite care
When you care for your parents or grandparents, the roles mix: Daughter or son, but carer at the same time. This can be emotionally stressful - but also nice if you consciously set boundaries.
- NorasTip: Care is important - but the relationship must not be lost. Old rituals help to maintain closeness without everything becoming just "duty".
- Small impulse: Did you used to have coffee with your mother every Thursday? Keep up this ritual. Bake your favorite cake. Don't talk about medication, talk about the past - and just stay a child in this moment, not a caregiver:r.
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Example: Eva, 42, cares for her mother who has the onset of dementia. Every Friday, she sits down at the table with her for half an hour, listens to music from the 60s, drinks tea from the old porcelain cups and consciously says: "Now is daughter time." This changes their relationship - and is good for both of them.
Preserve visits, trips, proximity
Why regular contact is so important
Caregivers - whether employed or via platforms such as noracares found - do a lot. They help in everyday life, with medication, dressing or washing. But what soul care means - closeness, history, identity - is created through family and emotional intimacy.
Therefore:
Care doesn't just mean care - but relationship. Visits, phone calls, hours together make the difference.
Ideas for shared moments:
- A walk in the park or through the garden - fresh air, a few birds, the rustling of leaves - all this activates the senses.
- Together baking or cooking - a simple cake based on grandma's recipe can bring back memories and feelings of happiness.
- An old Flip through the photo album and "Do you remember...?" say. Even if not every memory comes back - the feeling remains.
Note:
Always plan outings together with the caregiver. They know the state of health, know when breaks are necessary and can support the process.
Example:
Jakob, 76, lives in assisted care. Every month, his granddaughter brings him new photos of everyday family life - of the first day at school, the dog in the snow, the apple tree in the garden. Together they create a wall calendar collage. For Jakob, it's more than just decoration - it's a window into the world of his loved ones.
Care can also be beautiful! Care at home is one of the most intensive, challenging and at the same time most valuable tasks you can take on. It demands a lot - but it also gives a lot in return. Especially when you not only manage to cope with everyday life, but also with dignity, warmth and humanity.
Often it is not big changes, but small, conscious gestures that make the difference: A familiar daily routine, a cup of tea together, a loving conversation, a warm glow of light in the hallway. It is precisely these moments that bring structure, closeness and a sense of security - for the person in need of care and for you.
You don't have to do this alone. noracares connects you with experienced, empathetic caregivers who not only support you with their specialist knowledge, but also with their hearts. Together, you can not only organize care at home - but make it more beautiful. Because: Care shouldn't just work. It can also be touching. And be beautiful.
- Dementia - A collective term for various diseases in which mental performance - such as memory, language or thinking - gradually declines. Older people are particularly frequently affected.
- Daily structure - A regular, recurring daily routine. It helps people in need of care to find their bearings in terms of time and emotions - particularly important in the case of dementia or mental stress.
- Biographical work - A care approach in which experiences, memories and personal objects from the life of the person in need of care are specifically used to promote emotional closeness and orientation.
- Care bed - A motorized bed that can be adjusted in height and lying position. It makes it easier to get up, reposition and provide care in everyday life - for patients and care staff alike.
- Handholds - Safety devices in the bathroom or hallway that provide additional support and can prevent falls. Particularly important for people with limited mobility.
- Orientation aids - symbols, labels or colors that help people find their way around the home - such as signs on doors or color-coded pieces of furniture. Very helpful for dementia.
- noracares - A platform where families can find and contact loving, qualified caregivers directly - uncomplicated, safe and human. Caregivers can register and get in touch with families directly to arrange suitable care relationships.
