Alzheimer’s & Aging in Place: Designing a Safer, More Supportive Home

What happens when a loved one with Alzheimer’s wants to remain at home? How can families make a familiar home safer without taking away the independence and comfort that make it feel like home?

In this special five-part SilverHome conversation from Answers for Elders, host Barry Long is joined by Tom Minty of ABLE Environments and Paul Kocharhook of Pathway Design + Construction to explore the physical and environmental side of Alzheimer’s care and aging in place. The conversation looks at how thoughtful home design can support a person living with Alzheimer’s while also making life safer and more manageable for family caregivers. Topics include familiarity and routines, universal design, home modifications, lighting, color and contrast, touch and texture, wayfinding, bedroom and bathroom safety, circular paths of travel, and creating spaces that support independence without feeling institutional.

The discussion also explores the caregiver’s role, the importance of planning ahead, and the challenges of balancing safety with independence. Barry shares a powerful childhood memory of his great-grandmother, illustrating how an individual with Alzheimer’s may lose awareness of people in the present while still accessing vivid memories from decades earlier. The group also discusses sundowning, circadian rhythms, natural and automated lighting, familiar objects and activities, and how design can help create a more secure and comfortable living environment. Most importantly, Tom and Paul emphasize that not every home can safely accommodate every stage of Alzheimer’s—and that families benefit from evaluating their options before a crisis occurs.

Whether you are caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, considering aging in place, remodeling a home for senior safety, or simply planning for the future, this conversation offers practical ideas for thinking about the home as part of a broader care strategy. The goal isn't to design for a disease—it’s to design for the person, while supporting the people who care for them.

The SilverHome Radio Show helps older adults and their families think ahead about the choices, resources and support that can help them remain independent as they age. SilverHome is part of Answers for Elders Radio and airs the second week of each month. Listen Saturdays at 12:00 PM on AM 1000 | 97.7 FM (Northwest Newsradio).