More than 30 years ago, the long-term care industry recognized growing demand for a nursing home alternative that would accommodate healthy lifestyles. The assisted living model has been the latest movement in this direction, and although it’s still going strong, what’s next in enhancing the active lives of the next generation of residents?
Today’s seniors have the benefit of medical and technological advancements that not only prolong life but support healthier, more active lifestyles. These advancements are expected to continue to provide seniors with even longer, healthier, and more independent lives in the future.
To that end, emerging seniors want a way of life that encourages them to be engaged, adventurous, and culturally immersed. In response, senior healthcare developers are currently weighing the benefits of protracted lifestyles against the burden of providing costly in-house services, working to identify an alternative to the assisted living concept.
This shift is taking form in designing for senior life choices rather than focusing on housing alone.
For example, according to a recent Mason-Dixon Poll, 80 percent of relocating baby boomers want affordable recreational opportunities in their destinations, along with strong local senior care services. Additionally, 75 percent reported that arts and cultural activities are important to them, with 70 percent preferring a midsize city to small towns. Downtown centers offer theaters, restaurants, shopping, financial services, art, museums, parks, and healthcare, all within close proximity to public transportation or within walking distance.
To answer this trend, one solution for developers is a mixed-use building in which portions contain services for seniors—not only for those residing in the building but also for seniors throughout the community. This type of facility could provide independent living options to seniors who would also become clients for service provider partners, ensuring higher occupancy levels and attracting lessees for the mixed-use space for longer periods of time.
Mixed-use buildings may include services open to the public such as adult daycare and fitness centers, including space for physical/occupational and experienced therapists for seniors. Areas for home healthcare or doctor offices/clinics also allow immediate access to healthcare. Space for a pharmacy/convenience store with products geared for seniors can be associated with an urban grocer to provide healthy, fresh, and local products. Another important partner could be a restaurant that provides dining services. Repurposing these and other services as public amenities will attract seniors to the community.
If the site allows, the residential portion of the building might include memory care and assisted living areas with outdoor spaces and roof gardens. Other segments can be independent units with amenities such as balconies, rooftop gardens, and social areas. These independent levels can be converted to and licensed as assisted living to allow for aging in-place, keeping couples together.
When programming a facility of this kind, the consideration of building support spaces, adequate staff spaces, administrative offices, marketing offices, required nursing spaces, circulation space, and parking and delivery areas are key, as well. Consultation with the local health department guidelines for other required spaces related to the healthcare component for future conversion of the building is recommended.
While current options certainly aren’t on their way to extinction, as there will always be a need for accommodations for the frailest seniors and for rehabilitation of all age groups, it’s time to take a fresh look at designing senior living facilities. It’s time to design more flexible and engaging life choices for our senior population.
