Great SENIOR LIVING DESIGN

According to the United States Census Bureau the percentage of the population over the age of 65 is increasing in every county in the state of Arizona. This trend of population aging is not just in Arizona or even in the United States but in all but 18 countries worldwide. A direct result of increased life expectancies and falling fertility rates, population aging will influence the entire field of interior design but no one more than those working specifically in senior housing. LuAnn Thoma-Holec, FASID, CID, NICDQ has been doing just that since 2006 with her Mesa, Arizona-based Thoma-Holec Design LLC and has just expanded to add an additional design studio in Portland, Oregon. In designing these spaces, Luann and her team strive for welcoming, home-like spaces with remarkable amenities but before they can be concerned with aesthetics they first must be concerned with the safety and well-being of the residents. Following are her thoughts on the important elements of a great senior living design.