What to consider during the planning and design of developments
By Soo Im
The increased need for seniors housing has fostered a great deal of interest in the sector. Many developers are shifting their interest from multifamily housing projects to the standalone assisted living and memory care facilities in various markets.
With so much new development, there are a few issues to consider during a project’s initial design and planning phases.
Designing a successful senior living environment requires careful programming that considers the care staff, operations staff and the residents equally. The physical environment must allow the entire community to thrive as well as provide a strong marketing appeal to potential residents.
Care model and philosophy
There are several different care models that affect the staff-resident interaction, organizational structure and use of space, which impact the design of the physical environment.
With greater focus on resident-centered care, there are more options today in the senior care environment. Having a clear understanding of the care model will help prioritize the decision-making process for the design of the physical environment.
Small House Models, for example, promote higher level of resident engagement in day-to-day planning of the activity. This, in turn, has a direct impact on staffing structure, as well as size and placement of physical spaces such as kitchen and dining rooms.
Collaboration
Bring an administrator or an operator on board early in the design process to review the program and flow of the spaces. This is especially critical for those who are relatively new to the market or those transitioning to a different care model, as it will establish the priorities and philosophy discussed earlier.
Also, select a design team that has experience in the project type and current trends to help navigate the fine points of designing a successful senior living environment.
A clear project vision along with a strong communication and relationship between the owner/developer, facility administrator and the architectural design team are key to bringing a strong community to life.
Differentiators
As demand increases for senior care communities and more facilities are provided, the need to differentiate one community from others is a critical factor in success. What makes your community special and sets it apart? Some factors to consider that impact the physical environment of the community are:
• What is unique in your care model, and how can the physical environment better serve your community?
• What programs and amenities are being offered to the residents and what types of spaces are required for these activities?
• What staffing programs and spaces are needed to keep your community competitive and staff satisfied?
Dining model
With increased demand for dining choices and options, how the food is prepared and served is one of the key differentiators between various communities.
Most communities are adopting partially-open kitchens, where the meals are cooked and plated for the residents per request. These provide an additional experience to the residents.
Modeling from The Green House Project, some communities are going as far as providing a separate, small kitchen in each of the neighborhoods for a home-like environment and are steering away from a central commercial kitchen.
Evoking the sense of smell, sound and color through the food preparation process creates a healthier and more engaging dining experience for the residents.
Architectural style
This is an area where there is not one correct answer for every project. Each new development will need to understand the target market to make good decisions.
Whether the design is traditional and familiar, modern or contemporary, establish the community’s image and message through the architecture.
Design speaks to the lifestyle and quality of care the residents will receive. Know who the audience is. Appeal to not only the seniors, but the family members who will help make decisions and the younger visitors who will be vital to energizing the community.
The design should create a sense of place and community, establish an identity and provide a healthy, healing environment to meet the care philosophy set for the community.
Outdoor connections and daylighting
The concept of daylighting is not a new one. We all know having good connections to the outdoors is important for increased emotional and physical health.
To achieve good daylighting in building design requires early planning and careful detailing at each phase of the design.
Establish site opportunities early to incorporate natural, biophilic design elements into the project. Distribute program elements throughout the project to optimize daylighting opportunities in the interior spaces. Reduce the length of the corridors, and increase natural flow and movement. Add indoor/outdoor rooms, an outdoor kitchen and outdoor dining . Outdoor activity areas should cater to the local climate to enhance indoor-outdoor living and entertaining opportunities.
The lighting plan should be prepared thoughtfully to provide secondary lights for added depth, compensation in those areas without proper daylighting and to create proper evening environments.
Design flexibility
The market will continue to change over time. Many trends will come and go over the upcoming years and you can’t always anticipate how the market will shift.
Considering a typical project takes three to four years or longer from inception to occupancy, the physical infrastructure of the building needs to be designed with change in mind.
• Be able to convert between different levels of care. Consider your current needs as well as potential future needs to select the right construction types. Plan a layout that will serve the project for years down the line.
• Provide open and adaptable space planning. Keep amenity spaces flexible. Avoid spaces that are customized for a specific set of activities.
• Design infrastructure to take advantage of current and future technology. Technology is one key infrastructure that will shape the way care and services are delivered to the residents. Growth and expansion in this area should be anticipated.
Inter-community activities
Involve the community. Create intergenerational activities and provide opportunities to interact with younger generations.
Most residents in senior care communities welcome the comfort and security they provide, but do not enjoy aging among other aged folks. Beyond scheduling outings, program spaces to invite the local community and host neighborhood gatherings and events.
Soo Im, AIA, LEED AP, is a director with KTGY Architecture + Planning, which has offices in Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pune and Tysons.