Dementia-Supportive Homes: Design Principles & Guidance

A manual to dementia-supportive home design.

Most dementia-related design information is scattered, highly technical, or too general to act on. This manual is your primary resource for planning and implementing home changes. It provides practical, actionable guidance on WHERE to start, WHAT to prioritize, and HOW to redesign each area of your home.

The manual helps you:

• Decide which room or element to tackle first - Whole-home design principles help you assess your entire space and identify the highest-impact starting point
• Understand what changes actually matter - Room-by-room chapters explain the specific challenges of each space (bathroom, bedroom, dining room, hallways, kitchen, living room) and translate them into clear design objectives
• Plan across different budgets - Every room chapter includes budget-tiered interventions (low-cost modifications, moderate investment, major renovation) so you can work within your financial reality
• Prioritize by what's most urgent - Changes are organized by priority categories (safety, technical functionality, cognitive support, comfort & dignity) so you know what can't wait and what can be phased in over time
• Make informed design decisions at your own pace - Comprehensive suggestions for every area give you the knowledge to implement changes yourself or brief professionals confidently

Who this is for: Families and homeowners looking for a professional, approachable, and affordable roadmap to begin their dementia-supportive home modification.