Supportive Housing as a Promising Practice for People with Dementia

This essay seeks to foster a dialogue between dementia care and supportive housing by examining how the core values, guiding principles, and practices in supportive housing could respond to unaddressed housing needs of people with dementia. This analysis draws upon documented and anecdotal strategies from supportive housing to move beyond the traditional dichotomy of successful aging in place versus institutionalization in skilled-nursing or memory-care settings. By considering interdisciplinary insights and interventions from mental and behavioral health alongside dementia care, we can identify novel housing options that have the potential to enhance agency, promote autonomy, and facilitate sustained social engagement for people with dementia.