Human factors and environmental support in Alzheimer's disease.

Overview

Cognitive aging research suggests that environmental support can minimize memory failures in older adults. Similarly, designers of dwellings for frail and dementing older populations try to provide prosthetic environments to support greater independence. We review some of these research issues and design practices from a human factors perspective. Early in the disease process training approaches may be most effective, whereas later on there will need to be more reliance on effective design. We also suggest a framework for optimizing design across stakeholders and discuss some public policy issues.