Better environments
Better living
Better aging

Placing autonomy, dignity, and community connection at the centre of daily life

The Global Household Consortium’s vision is to unite aged care providers, health and allied care practitioners, researchers, and academics from around the world. Our shared goal is to promote and advance the understanding and adoption of the Small Household Model—a person-centred approach that transforms traditional care into a home-like, empowering, and community-connected experience for all people, including those living with dementia.

Register your interest
A communal outdoor area at a small household aged care home in Adelaide, South Australia

The Small Household Model proposes small-scale residential aged care settings with private en-suite bedrooms, domestic kitchens, and access to outdoor spaces.

What is the small household model?

The Small Household Model (SHM) is a person-centred approach to aged care that combines the built environment and care model to create a home-like environment, provide autonomy and independence, empower staff and support meaningful engagement for residents, particularly those living with dementia.

Unlike traditional institutional care, the SHM is designed around small, self-contained households, typically accommodating 6 to 15 residents who live together in a familiar, domestic and comfortable setting.

Global research and real-world outcomes show that the SHM improves quality of life, wellbeing and satisfaction for people living with dementia and care teams.

Residents are supported to take part in everyday activities like cooking, laundry, and social interactions. Unlike institutional settings with rigid schedules, households operate flexibly around residents’ personal preferences, promoting autonomy and comfort.
Each household is designed to feel like a real home, with open-plan kitchens, living and dining areas, private bedrooms and access to outdoor spaces. The scale, layout and design features help reduce confusion and anxiety, making it easier for people living with dementia to navigate and engage confidently in their environment.
Teams work with residents, building trust, understanding and meaningful connection. This close relationship helps carers recognise subtle changes in residents’ wellbeing and tailor support to individual needs.
The SHM encourages friendships, family involvement and community engagement. Mealtimes, shared activities and visiting spaces create opportunities for social interaction, reducing loneliness.

Take a tour of a small household home

Belong Villages' Chester (UK) home is based on a village model, with households for residential care, apartments for independent living and a village centre with a range of facilities to be enjoyed by all residents, customers and members of the wider community. 

If you're passionate about the future of aging, we want to hear from you.

Register your interest, or ask us a question and we'll get back to you shortly.