Contrast is more than a design choice. It is one of the most effective ways to make homes, bathrooms, and shared spaces safer and easier to navigate for older adults. As depth perception and contrast sensitivity decline, strong visual differences between floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures become essential cues. This post explores why contrast matters, how to measure it, and how small updates can improve safety and confidence in everyday environments.

Breakrooms can either restore caregivers or reinforce the stress of the workday. In this study of six long-term care communities, the most-used breakrooms were not always the closest ones, but the ones that created a sense of separation. Privacy, acoustic calm, natural light, and freedom from stored supplies all contributed to whether staff could truly step away and reset.

The true measure of aging in place is not only accessibility. Homes that make sense, feel manageable, and hold personal meaning, support health and independence in ways that go beyond physical design.

Does your long term care community feel like home, or like a workplace with residents? A home should be intuitive and supportive on its own, without signs and reminders on the walls. In this article, I explore how staffing, design choices, and organizational culture work together to shape whether long term care truly feels like home.

When I helped my son move into his university dorm last week, he looked around and said, “It feels like a prison cell.” That moment made me realize how powerfully design shapes our sense of home. From transitional housing to senior living, the same principle applies: thoughtful design often determines whether a place feels welcoming or institutional.
In my new article, I explore how choices around storage, lighting, corridors, and personalization can shape belonging across all kinds of temporary housing.

Open kitchens are everywhere in senior living, but do they truly support resident comfort and connection? A look at noise levels, dining room design, and what older adults actually want.

Public restrooms are essential to health, dignity, and inclusion, but are smart bathrooms truly accessible and equitable? Here's a look at how two companies are rethinking what a public restroom can be.