A comforting home scene illustrating Alzheimer's care

Aging in Place: How to Support Seniors with Alzheimer's at Home

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover expert-backed strategies and essential considerations for creating a safe, supportive home environment for individuals with Alzheimer's disease."

As the population ages, more families are facing the challenges of caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. In France alone, nearly a million people live with Alzheimer's, with projections estimating a rise to 1.4 million by 2030. While institutional care is an option, many families prefer to support their loved ones in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.

However, home care presents unique hurdles. Caregivers often experience significant strain, impacting their health, finances, and overall quality of life. Balancing the demands of caregiving with personal needs requires careful planning and access to the right resources. A recent study delved into the key factors that contribute to successful home care for individuals with Alzheimer's, offering valuable insights for families and healthcare professionals alike.

This study, employing the Delphi technique, gathered the perspectives of 26 experts from various countries, including professionals, volunteers, and family caregivers. Their consensus identified critical conditions that support aging in place for those with Alzheimer's, emphasizing the importance of caregiver well-being and a comprehensive approach to care.

What Makes a Home Suitable for Alzheimer’s Care?

A comforting home scene illustrating Alzheimer's care

The Delphi study highlighted several interconnected factors crucial for successful home care. These conditions fall into four main categories:

Focus on the Caregiver's Well-being: Prioritizing the caregiver's physical and mental health is essential. This includes:

Acceptance of External Support: Caregivers must be willing to accept help from outside resources, such as respite care and support groups.
Maintaining Personal Activities: Caregivers need to carve out time for their own hobbies, interests, and social connections.
Access to Respite Care: Short breaks and respite services can prevent burnout and provide caregivers with much-needed rest.
Desire to Provide Care: A genuine desire to care for the individual with Alzheimer's is a strong predictor of successful home care.
Shared Goal-Setting: Involving the caregiver and the person with Alzheimer's (to the extent possible) in setting care goals promotes a sense of partnership.
Training in Behavior Management: Equipping caregivers with strategies to manage challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer's can reduce stress and improve the care environment.

Team Dynamics and Support: A cohesive and communicative care team is vital. This involves:

Moving Forward: Creating a More Supportive Future

This study underscores the complexity of home care for individuals with Alzheimer's and the critical role of caregiver well-being. By addressing the needs of both the person with Alzheimer's and their caregiver, and by fostering strong support systems, families can create environments that promote dignity, comfort, and a higher quality of life.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary challenges faced by caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's at home?

Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's at home often experience significant strain impacting their health, finances, and overall quality of life. Balancing the demands of caregiving with personal needs requires careful planning and access to the right resources. The Delphi study, involving experts like professionals, volunteers, and family caregivers, highlights that the key is to focus on the caregiver's well-being. This includes acceptance of external support, maintaining personal activities, access to respite care, a genuine desire to provide care, shared goal-setting, and training in behavior management.

How does the study's focus on caregiver well-being contribute to successful home care for those with Alzheimer's?

The study emphasizes that prioritizing the caregiver's physical and mental health is essential for successful home care. This is not only about the caregiver's health but also impacts the quality of care provided to the individual with Alzheimer's. Factors such as Acceptance of External Support, and Access to Respite Care, are vital in preventing burnout and providing necessary breaks, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and positive care environment. In addition, maintaining personal activities, shared goal-setting, and training in behavior management also contribute to the caregiver's well-being, which is a strong predictor of successful home care.

What is the Delphi technique, and how was it used in the study related to Alzheimer's home care?

The Delphi technique is a research method used to gather consensus from a group of experts. In the context of Alzheimer's home care, this technique involved collecting perspectives from 26 experts, including professionals, volunteers, and family caregivers, from various countries. These experts identified critical conditions that support aging in place for those with Alzheimer's, emphasizing the importance of caregiver well-being and a comprehensive approach to care.

Besides the caregiver's well-being, what other factors are crucial for successful home care according to the study?

Besides focusing on the caregiver's well-being, the study indicates that Team Dynamics and Support are also crucial for successful home care. This includes establishing a cohesive and communicative care team. This collaborative environment supports the needs of both the person with Alzheimer's and their caregiver, thus promoting dignity, comfort, and a higher quality of life. This underscores the complexity of home care and the importance of creating environments that promote a higher quality of life.

What are the projections for Alzheimer's prevalence, and why is home care a preferred option for many families?

The article highlights that the number of people living with Alzheimer's is rising. In France alone, nearly a million people live with Alzheimer's, with projections estimating a rise to 1.4 million by 2030. Despite the availability of institutional care options, many families prefer home care to support their loved ones in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes. This preference reflects a desire to maintain a sense of normalcy and provide personalized care within a familiar environment. However, the article also points out that home care presents unique hurdles that must be addressed to ensure a supportive environment.