Jaybird and Oak Consulting

Aging & Environmental Design

The spaces we live in shape how we function, feel, and connect.

Living room with beige curtains, white sofa, a round coffee table, a wooden chair, a white side table with a vase, and artwork on the wall, illuminated by natural light from a large window.

Make your environment work for YOU.

Planning for the future?

Living with physical or cognitive disabilities now?

Thoughtful environmental design can be the difference between daily frustration and meaningful independence.

At Jaybird and Oak Consulting, we consult with families, organizations, and care settings to design environments that support safety, autonomy, dignity, and quality of life— across the lifespan, and especially in later life.

Why Environment Matters

Sometimes life brings transitions, and the environment can help us strengthen and solidify the bridges that carry us there.

Disability is not experienced in isolation—it emerges at the intersection of a person’s abilities and their surroundings. Poorly designed environments can unintentionally increase confusion, falls, agitation, dependence, or social withdrawal. In contrast, well-designed spaces can:

Support mobility and physical functioning
Reduce cognitive overload and anxiety
Enhance orientation and memory
Improve wayfinding and spatial navigation
Promote independence and confidence
Foster calm, connection, and engagement

Environmental design is not just about accessibility—it’s about psychological fit.

Outline drawing of a sprig of a plant with small, elongated leaves.

A Geropsychology-Informed Approach to Environmental Design

Our work integrates psychology, aging science, and disability-affirming principles to help translate evidence into real-world spaces. I consider how people think, move, perceive, and emotionally experience their environments—particularly when living with conditions such as:

Dementia and mild cognitive impairment
Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions
Stroke, brain injury, or neurological illness
Sensory changes (vision, hearing, balance)
Mobility limitations or chronic illness

Design recommendations are always individualized, practical, and grounded in how people actually live.

What This Is—and What It’s Not

This is not interior design or architectural drafting.

It is psychological consultation that helps ensure spaces align with human cognition, behavior, and emotional well-being—often in collaboration with designers, architects, healthcare teams, or administrators.

Outline drawing of a leafy branch with multiple oval-shaped leaves.

We provide consultative guidance for:

Families & Care Partners
- Home layout and room-by-room recommendations
- Strategies to reduce confusion, falls, and stress
- Support for aging in place or care transitions
- Balancing safety with autonomy and identity
Organizations & Systems
- Assisted living, memory care, and long-term care environments
- Community spaces, workplaces, and service settings
- Programmatic design that supports cognition, inclusion, and participation
- Staff-informed environmental strategies that reduce burnout and behavioral distress
Designers, Architects, & Contractors
- Working on small or large scale projects serving people who want to optimize wellness and function? Partnering with people who have physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities? Consult with us for evidence-based environmental design recommendations.

Together we can design a space that helps you thrive

The environment does not just accommodate disability, it actively promotes independence, personhood, meaning, functioning, and quality of life.
The space is not just beautiful - but supports the brain, body, and emotional wellbeing.
What matters to you is what matters to us - and we can help build a space that helps you feel and function your best
We incorporate small environmental changes to reduce confusion, falls, and caregiver stress.
There truly is no place like home sweet home.

Imagine a space where…

Our Process

Plan with Purpose

Together, we outline a path forward that’s realistic, strategic, and tailored to your specific needs.
Collaborate Openly

You’re part of the process. We keep communication open and decisions shared—no black boxes or surprises.
Adapt as Needed

Every project is different. We stay flexible and responsive to make sure the process fits your flow—not the other way around.
Deliver with Confidence

When we deliver, it’s not just a finished product—it’s a solution you can trust, backed by real care and effort.

WHAT SETS US APART

Team of people working on wireframe sketches and user flow diagrams at a table with colorful sticky notes, markers, stickers, and a laptop.

How is Geropsychology-Informed Design Different?

Traditional interior design often focuses on aesthetics, trends, and functionality. Geropsychology-informed design goes deeper—considering how a space affects the aging brain, body, emotions, relationships, and sense of identity.

At Jaybird & Oak, we approach environmental design through a psychological lens. This means understanding how aging, illness, disability, or cognitive change can shape how a person experiences their surroundings—and designing spaces that actively support well-being, dignity, and autonomy.

Rather than asking only “What looks good?” we ask:

What feels grounding and familiar?
What reduces confusion, stress, or fatigue?
How can the environment offer helpful cues given the changes happening in the brain and body?
What supports independence, safety, and confidence?
What honors this person’s routines, values, and life story?

Geropsychology-informed design recognizes that environments can either support or strain emotional and cognitive health. Thoughtful choices around lighting, layout, color, noise, signage, and sensory input can make daily life feel calmer, safer, and more manageable—especially for older adults and those living with physical or cognitive changes.

This approach is not about making spaces look “clinical” or “institutional.” Instead, it is about blending evidence, empathy, and lived experience to create environments that being peace —while quietly supporting the realities of aging.

In short, geropsychology design bridges how a space looks with how it is experienced, ensuring the environment cares for the person living within it. Thoughtful spaces can reduce stress, support independence, and improve quality of life as we age.