Dementia-Friendly Signage
Client Overview
The Health Tree Foundation (the official charity for Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust) supports a range of projects designed to improve patient care. Thanks to a generous legacy donation, the charity was able to invest in dementia-friendly updates across several hospital wards. They instructed Signs Express Grimsby to help them with Dementia friendly signage.
Ready to improve hospital wayfinding?
Project Aims
When arranging the environment for dementia patients, the Trust has one clear request: each bed area needs to be customised to meet the individual needs of the patient. In hospital bays where every bed looked the same, that’s no small challenge.
The Trust turned to signage as a solution, something simple yet effective that could help each patient identify their designated bed area quickly and confidently.
The Challenge
On top of the design considerations, the installation itself came with logistical demands. We worked alongside multiple trades during the ward refurbishment, carefully coordinating with the Trust to ensure our installation caused minimal downtime. Every step was scheduled to make sure the ward was ready to welcome patients the moment the refurbishment was complete.
Our Approach
Signs Express Grimsby was brought on board to help shape a solution that felt human. We started listening and speaking to the nursing team to get a sense of what would really make a difference.
Together, we landed on three key ideas:
- Keep it simple: The image was simple and recognisable.
- Make it personal: Each bed got its own distinctive picture.
- Pictures and text: For essential areas like the toilet, we used a
photo of a toilet with the word “Toilet” below it. Straightforward and familiar.
Once the designs were approved, we produced everything in-house using durable aluminium composite with laminated digital prints robust enough to withstand daily cleaning and clear enough to be seen from across the room.
Results
With the wards being upgraded, we knew we had to work smart. Our install was planned around the refurbishment schedule so that we didn’t hold up progress. The team worked hand-in-hand with NHS staff and contractors, fitting the signage quickly so patients could move into their newly improved space without delay.
The results spoke for themselves. Staff noticed right away how much easier it was for patients to find their beds. The ward felt less clinical, more personal, and most importantly, more comforting.
Testimonials
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Client Testimonial
“These new facilities will benefit our dementia patients in a number of ways. The pictures above the bed will help patients to recognise their own bedspace, and the dementia friendly signage will help to orientate them to the environment. It’s all about familiarity and reducing anxiety. These facilities will also benefit patients with delirium and anyone with a cognitive impairment.” - Lauren Henry, HTF Projects
Our Testimonial
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the trust on this project, it was essential that I spoke with staff to gain a greater understanding of patients presenting with dementia. Working alongside their medical knowledge, I was able to advise on the development of signage and support them with a product which was fit for purpose. I am extremely proud of the signage that has been provided and greatly believe that this will reduce confusion and stress for the patients when in the care of the hospital.” - Claire Lindley, Commercial Director
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