Senior Living

Senior Living

Words by Gensler

Today’s aging population is increasingly tech-savvy, innovative, independent, and diverse. The design of living spaces ranging from retirement communities to multigenerational urban high rises are evolving to offer more choice and physical-digital integration. Savvy operators and developers are building spaces that accommodate the full spectrum of clients, catering to their specific needs.

4 STRATEGIES FOR RETHINKING LONGEVITY IN AN AGE-INCLUSIVE WORLD

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people of all ages, but older adults are among the most impacted. Design plays an important role in keeping older adults safe, connected, and engaged in their community. Here are four strategies for reimagining longevity in an age-inclusive world:

1 Reconnect with Nature

Evidence-based design research suggests that exposure to natural light and air, as well as views of nature, have positive health outcomes, from reducing stress to lowering blood pressure. Facilities can improve access to clean air by increasing the quantity and quality of filtered air while also reinforcing the importance of operable windows. They can also extend gardens into building designs, add balconies into unit designs, and recognize the full sensory benefits of nature.

2 Redefine Public and Private Spaces

We have an opportunity to more clearly define and expand private and semi-private spaces; distributing amenities closer to residential units, revisiting building delivery strategies, and reimagining corridors as spaces. We can also design thresholds for senior living facilities that can extend private spaces in a way that prioritizes residents’ health and safety, such as drop zones for food delivery, or an area where staff or other residents can visit from behind glass to help avoid contagion risk.

3 Embrace Technology

“Smart” technology, such as sensors, wearables, voice activation computers, mobile apps, and more can educate and assist people in living independently — at the high levels of aesthetic and performance quality they’ve come to expect. Technology can help people become active participants in their own health and physical environment. Telehealth, for example, is becoming increasingly important to reach older adults in their homes and communities.

4 Design Age friendly Cities And Experiences

Age-friendly infrastructures can support people of all ages to live and age in their homes and communities. By diversifying housing stock, creating more accessible connections to transit, using transportation to build social connections, creating safe pedestrian experiences, and other interventions, cities can make communities more livable for all ages and establish fully integrated multigenerational communities over time.

Evidence-based design research suggests that exposure to natural light and air, as well as views of nature, have positive health outcomes