Designing for people living with dementia isn’t just about “nice” interiors; it’s about enabling independence, reducing falls, and simplifying infection control. Australia now has national guidance for residential aged care design (developed with Dementia Training Australia) that emphasises environments which are familiar, legible, safe, and easy to clean — furniture choices are central to that. Health, Disability and Ageing Dept. Dementia Training Australia (DTA)

These are:

Principal 1 – Enable the Person

• Minimal Clutter
• Acoustic Comfort
• Better Lighting
• Tonal Contrast
• Simple Circulation
• Safe Floors
• Supportive Seating
• Nature Indoors
• Stress-free toilets

Principal 2 – Cultivate a Home

• Personalised Home
• Small Households
• Private entries
• Domestic Kithcens
• Room Clusters
• Enabling Corridors
• Private Bedrooms
• Ensuite Bathrooms
• Appropriate Furniture
• Clinical Support

Principal 3 – Access the outdoors

• Dedicated Outdoors
• Garden Connections
• Garden Verandahs
• Garden Destinations
• Clear Paths

Principal 4 – Connect with Community

• Neighbourhood Access
• Community Hub
• Easy Navigation to Households
• Integrated Building Form.

State guidance echoes this: chairs and tables must be stable, without sharp edges; dining chairs should have arms that fit under tables; fabrics must be serviceable; and furniture should support people to get up and down independently. Health Victoria+1

Specifically:

• Visually appealing and home-like furniture
• Furniture that gives adequate support
• Chairs and sofas that allow people to get up and down independently
• Stable and sturdy tables and chairs
• Furniture without sharp edges or corners
• Dining chair arms that fit under the table
• Dining chairs with good-looking, serviceable fabric
• Dining tables providing comfortable seating
• Dining tables catering for wheelchairs
• Sufficient table space so people can focus on the meals on their plates rather than be distracted by other people’s meals
• Comfortable and supportive lounge chairs
• Warm, soft fabrics for easy chairs
• Lounge chairs arranged in small groups, not at right angles to each other
• Furniture arrangement for wheelchair access and use
• Appropriate furniture to make each room’s purpose clear
• Special items of furniture for wayfinding landmarks
• Cosy cushions on inside and outdoor furniture
• Warm, soft blankets in bedrooms
• High quality beds at appropriate height
• Home-like bed heads
• Divided wardrobe
• Personal bedroom furniture
• Fabric curtains for cosier feel
• Outdoor seats and tables on porches and verandas and in other outdoor spots

1) Seating that supports safe transfers

Arms are non-negotiable. Armrests provide the leverage and proprioceptive feedback needed for safer sit-to-stand — especially where balance, motor planning and strength are affected by dementia. Government and Dementia Australia resources stress furniture that actively enables independence and safe movement. Health Victoria Dementia Australia

Seat height around ~500 mm. Retail lounge chairs often sit at ~430–460 mm; that’s low for older adults and increases effort and falls risk. Guidance for public/access seating allows raising preferred seat height up to 520 mm where many users are elderly — Wentworth typically targets ~480–520 mm (often ~500 mm) so feet plant, hips stay above knees, and standing is easier.

Right proportions. Proper seat depth and back support matter. Research in Australian aged care found many lounge chairs were too deep for older women (observed 480–530 mm vs a recommended ~440 mm depth), undermining posture and transfers. Wentworth specs are set to aged-care anthropometrics, not domestic proportions. SAGE Journals

2) Fabrics and finishes built for care (not the living room)

Bleach-cleanable, antimicrobial/vinyl options. In shared living, dementia or higher-acuity areas, finishes need to withstand frequent disinfection and body-fluid clean-ups. Retail textiles often pill, stain, or degrade with hospital-grade cleaning agents. Wentworth sources healthcare-grade textiles (incl. vinyl) specified for wipe-down routines and harsh cleaners. Dementia Australia

Fire performance. Upholstery and coverings for facilities commonly reference AS/NZS 1530.3 fire indices (ignitability, flame spread, smoke). Retail fabrics rarely carry this evidence; Wentworth can supply documentation for compliant textiles, using Materialised, Warwick, Zepel, Wortley – all information can be provided.

Serviceability. State guidance calls for “good-looking, serviceable fabric.” Wentworth prioritises high-abrasion textiles, moisture barriers, replaceable components, and zipped/replaceable cushions — things retail sofas don’t offer. Health Victoria

3) Strength, stability and warranty for commercial use

There is no single “Australian Standard for dementia furniture.” However, aged-care providers commonly require furniture that meets commercial strength/stability standards (not domestic). Chairs and lounges can be specified and/or AFRDI-certified against AS/NZS 4688 (fixed-height chairs: strength, durability, stability). Retail pieces typically aren’t tested to these levels.

Australia also now has National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines (June 20, 2024) — these aren’t product “standards,” but they’re government-endorsed guidance that informs procurement and design briefs for dementia-supportive accommodation. Health, Disability and Ageing Dept.

4) Dementia-friendly details you don’t get from retail

• Clear visual contrast. Seat, arms and floor need contrast for depth perception and wayfinding; patterned, shiny or low-contrast retail fabrics can confuse edges. (Wentworth curates dementia-friendly colourways and matt, low-glare finishes.)
• Rounded edges & wall-saver frames. Reduce injury risk and protect walls during chair movement — a frequent facilities pain point.
• Arms that fit under tables. Encourages close seating posture for safe eating and reduces spillage and effort. Wentworth’s dining arms are sized to clear table aprons. Health Victoria
• Stable frames & anti-tilt geometry. Designed to resist tipping when a resident leans heavily on an arm to stand — a common failure point in retail chairs.

5) Infection control & housekeeping

Dementia Australia’s environment guidance highlights tooling and layouts that support dignity and independence, alongside practical maintainability. Retail furniture simply isn’t designed for daily bleach or hospital-grade cleaning.

6) Dining, lounges, and bedrooms — quick specs to look for

• Dining chairs: arms, ~480–520 mm seat height, skid-resistant glides, textured/vinyl seat, under-table arm clearance. Health Victoria
• Lounge chairs: armrests, shallower seat depth options (~440–460 mm), firm sitting surface (not sink-in), wipe-clean fabric/vinyl. SAGE Journals
• Bedroom seating: stable tub/armchair with arms, non-glare fabrics, contrasting piping for edge definition. Health, Disability and Ageing Dept.

What about “Australian Standards” for dementia furniture?

• Fabrics: Ask for documented fire performance to AS/NZS 1530.3 where required by your building/fire risk assessments. Standards New Zealand  Materialised
• Design guidance (not a standard): Use the National Aged Care Design Principles & Guidelines (Dept of Health, 20 June 2024) and Dementia Australia resources to shape briefs and selections for dementia-supportive environments. Health, Disability and Ageing Dept.Dementia Australia

Sources: Dept of Health National Aged Care Design Principles; Dementia Australia; Health.Vic dementia-friendly furniture guidance; AS/NZS standards for fixed-height chairs and fabric