In some residential care environments, design prevents harm and provides a safe environment for residents with dementia. However, some design features are deceptive or infantilizing, impacting residents’ dignity and well-being. For instance, murals are a typical design used to disguise exit doors. Motifs/ patterns such as bookcases can confuse some residents when they recognize the function of the door and the flat 2-D image of the books yet witness people walking in and out of the bookcase. Further, when others without dementia or an early stage of dementia witness residents perceiving the bookcase as real, this contributes to the paternalism and stigmatization of people with dementia. Not only are these murals dated and condescending, but they also do not recognize the capacity/ capabilities of people with dementia. Future designs should be more modern, interactive, and suited to the diverse interests of an adult population.