Transforming the healing environment - Dulux Trade

COLOURCASE STUDY:The Dementia Services Development Centrecalls on Dulux Trade expertiseDulux Trade has helped to develop a series ofcolour ranges that the centre can recommendto those providing care for people with dementia.The Dementia Services Development Centre at theUniversity of Stirling was established in 1989 toimprove the understanding of dementia, and providestraining for doctors, nurses, social workers and others.The project is part of the centre’s new technologysuite, comprising an en-suite bathroom, a livingarea and kitchen. Acting as a ‘showhome’ forthose involved in dementia care, it showcases newtechnology and equipment.To meet the duties of The Equality Act, Dulux Tradewas asked to develop a range of colour schemesthat took into account the need to enhance spatialawareness by contrasting visually adjacent criticalsurfaces by 30 points difference in Light ReflectanceValue – a substantial difference which can leadto dull, monochromatic results without a high levelof expertise and guidance.The colour schemes developed by Dulux Tradeaid those with visual impairment and aid navigation– the lilac or pale green walls within the living andcommunal areas contrasting with pristine white trimand oak doors, and bright yellow bathroom doors.Colm Cunnigham, from the centre, comments:“We needed Dulux Trade to provide a wide rangeof colour schemes from which users could thenchoose the most appropriate base. We now havea range of colour schemes we can confidentlyrecommend to our clients.”| 27