Senior Housing Development: An Architect's View
Regardless of age or what part of the country you’re from, chances are that you’ve had reason to visit, or possibly even stay, in a 1960’s style senior care facility; Single story, brick, flat roofed structures with little or no exterior character. Long corridors with shiny linoleum floors, prominent nurse stations with dozens of non-active residents gathered around, large communal dining rooms with enough noise to agitate even the calmest people, and small semi-private rooms with no shower and shared toilets. This is the image and perception that we, as designers of senior living of the future, must continually reject and rethink. “Home” can be accomplished in many ways including (but certainly not limited to): residential character and style of exteriors, warm and inviting interior finishes, size scale and orientation of well thought out common spaces, and well designed resident units.
“Home”, though, cannot be accomplished by bricks and mortar alone. We as architects and designers must have a clear understanding of the operational needs of the project, work towards the redefining of traditional staffing models (culture change), and an unwavering commitment toward addressing the physical needs of the residents we’re designing for. Whether the design is a CCRC, independent living, assisted living, skilled care, or any level of senior care in between, we must strive at all times to reject the institutional models of the past, and create “home” for seniors of the future.
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