Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 5.3 million Americans, and that number is expected to double by 2050. Caregivers shoulder a particularly heavy burden as the illness alters the dementia patient's behavior, mood, and judgment, impeding his or her ability to engage in normal, everyday activities.

In response to this mounting public health challenge, experts at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City, have spent four years creating ThisCaringHome.org, an interactive, multimedia Web site for those who take care of Alzheimer's and other dementia patients.

The Web site helps caregivers learn strategies to care for people with dementia better, especially how to adapt the home environment to meet the behavioral and physical needs of people with Alzheimer's.

Created by Rosemary Bakker, research associate in gerontologic design in medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Weill Cornell, the site features videos, animations, and photographs, as well as expert reviews of home furnishings and smart technologies. Bakker, a former caregiver to her mother, has put her first-hand knowledge to use in the creation of this Web site.

"Persons with dementia and their caregivers deserve better lives and more help with the everyday challenges they face," Bakker says.

The interactive Web site shows how best to adapt a home for people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and enhance the individual's safety and independence.

The 3-D animations, videos, and written content illustrate the complex process of changing the home to match the stage of the patient's disease. A social networking component enables caregivers to share information, ask questions, and find support from the online caregiver community.

The Web site takes visitors on a "virtual" visit through every room of a house, demonstrating in detail how to deal with issues that might arise in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. Other sections include tips for reducing agitated behaviors and improving quality of life for those with dementia, such as playing favorite old songs, receiving an aromatherapy massage, and playing with a docile pet.