Home Modifications for People With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this review was twofold: (1) to gain insight into what is known from the literature about home modifications for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and (2) to identify gaps in the literature that could lead to opportunities for research. METHOD. A systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published from 1994 through 2014 explored home modifications and AD. RESULTS. Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria. The three major findings pertain to (1) the caregiver role and caregiver training, (2) a client-centered collaborative approach to assessment and intervention, and (3) modifications for safety and function. Home modifications involved the physical and social environments as well as cognitive strategies at the task level. CONCLUSION. Opportunities exist for the development of assessment procedures, the exploration of home modifications in the later stages of AD, and the study of home modification needs of people with dementia who live alone.