DwellSafe at ASA: Home as the Frontline of Care

Her talk centered around a core truth we don’t say out loud often enough: aging doesn’t happen in clinics. It happens in kitchens. In hallways. In the places where we live every day. And if we’re serious about supporting people as they age, we need to build systems—and spaces—that actually reflect that.

The room was full of designers, remodelers, and home industry pros—people who think deeply about how we shape the spaces we live in. What stood out wasn’t just the curiosity in the room. It was the sense that this shift isn’t coming someday—it’s already happening.

Janet shared a clinical perspective rooted in real-world experience. The kind you get from years of working with families who are doing their best in homes that weren’t built with aging in mind. She talked about what happens when we design with intention—how small changes can prevent big setbacks, and how the right tools can help people stay safe without giving up independence.

This kind of work can’t be done in isolation. It takes everyone—builders, clinicians, designers, caregivers—pulling in the same direction. That’s why being in the room mattered. The conversations were thoughtful, the momentum real, and the stakes incredibly human.