The rise in life expectancy increased the number of elderly people with AD, which affects one person every seven seconds. In Brazil, it is estimated that there are one million elderly people with Alzheimer s Disease (AD), dementia that affects their interaction with people and the place where they live. Projects for the housing of elderly people with dementia aim at their safety, rather than subjective demands. This is an investigation of tangible ways to contribute to intangible aspects of the lives of elderly people with AD. To this end, a systematic search for adaptations was made in the architectural environment in which people with dementia live, covering articles from periodicals indexed in the MEDline database and consultation with other sources. Concepts about space, place, house and home were organized in parallel, identifying a close relationship between the notion of home and the feeling of belonging. Data on AD were also collected, with special attention to the effects related to the interaction of the elderly with their home, in particular. The interventions aimed at time-spatial orientation stood out, as they encompass concepts of sensory stimulation and considering the importance of a family-friendly, safe place that favors autonomy, independence, social interaction and privacy, fundamental attributes for the design of environments for elderly people with dementia. It was concluded that the design of more understandable environments can contribute to the quality of life of the elderly with AD.