Bringing Home to the Halls: Mayflower's Door Skin Revolution

Mayflower Reservoir aged care is experiencing a positive transformation, thanks to a generous $1 million grant from the Department of Health and Ageing.

Allocated strategically across multiple projects, the grant aims to enrich residents' lives, considering diverse cultural backgrounds and abilities, as highlighted by Rebecca, Mayflower's Executive Director of Quality, Risk and Compliance.

Pictured above: Angelo with Enrolled Nurse, Theresa, proudly stands in front of the door he chose to represent 'home'. “They look fantastic,” says Theresa, affectionately known by the Mayflower Reservoir community as Rees, “we have had a lot of great feedback about the doors – and family members love them!”

One notable initiative from the grant is the introduction of personalised door decals, also known as graphic-designed ‘door skins,’ in Murray House memory support unit. Residents actively chose door skins that resonated with their personal style or resembled front doors from their previous homes.

These door skins serve a dual purpose, adding individuality to each resident's space and aiding those living with dementia in wayfinding. Navigating the corridors becomes a more familiar experience as the door skins act as visual cues, helping residents locate their rooms and navigate their home with ease.

Beyond practicality, the door skins inject colour into Mayflower Reservoir, helping create a unique visual identity. This intentional aesthetic transformation serves as a point of difference for wayfinding and evokes nostalgia for residents and their families.

Rebecca emphasises the significance of the changes, stating, "Research indicates that supporting wayfinding is a fundamental aspect of dementia-friendly environmental design, achieved through the creation of landmarks such as visual cues. An example of this is our new door decals, serving not only to differentiate residents' rooms but also holding personal significance, tapping into long-term memories for those living with dementia."

And, according to a research journal supplied by the University of Wollongong NSW, implementing graphic-designed door skins encourages curiosity, conversation, and independence in addition to assisting with wayfinding and recognition. The research journal is aptly titled Graphic Designed Bedroom Doors to Support Dementia Wandering in Residential Care Homes: Innovative Practice.

At Mayflower Reservoir, these door skin innovations symbolise more than just physical enhancements. They reflect a deep commitment to nurturing the soul, reminding everyone that life, at any stage, is abundant with possibilities, memories, and connections. Residents now find themselves in an environment that feels more like a cherished home, fostering a sense of belonging.

The feedback from our community and team has been positive, “They look fantastic,” says Enrolled Nurse, Theresa, “We have had a lot of great feedback about the doors – family members love them!”

As these changes unfold, Mayflower Reservoir invites the community to embrace countless cherished moments.

We express gratitude to the Department of Health and Ageing for their generous support, enabling us to enhance residents' quality of life. May this transformation continue to pave the way for a warm and welcoming community at Mayflower Reservoir.

Pictured above: Enrolled Nurse with Krystyna and her chosen door. Beyond practicality, the door skins inject colour into Mayflower Reservoir, helping create a unique visual identity.

Pictured above: This citrus infusion example of colour and design serves a dual purpose, adding individuality to each resident's space and aiding those living with dementia in wayfinding.

Pictured above: implementing graphic-designed door skins also encourages curiosity, conversation, and independence in addition to assisting with wayfinding and recognition.