While it’s still cold, gray, and dreary here in Ohio, spring is going to be here before we know it (right?!)—and with it, the EFA Conference. This is the time of year when our event staff and the extended family of presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and associations are putting the finishing touches on all the elements that combine to make the conference such a valuable experience.
For my part, I’ve been working with Eric McRoberts, partner at RLPS Architects in Lancaster, Pa., and others on a new plenary session that will take place Monday afternoon (April 20) of the conference. The session’s goal: To bring different sides of the design table—architect, owner, etc.—together on the stage to dissect some of the biggest trends happening in the industry. It’s basically a point/counterpoint reality check. And I expect a very intelligent, thought-provoking discussion that goes beyond basic talking points of research findings, resident preferences, and marketing benefits.
New care and living models are very important if you want to succeed in today’s market, but at the same time, best-case scenarios are derailed regularly, for any number of reasons. So where’s the middle ground? That’s what the panel members—and the audience—are going to discuss.
RLPS has drafted a list of 10 big trends (and the issues surrounding them) that are important to consider for the design of senior living environments today. But to keep the plenary session focused and to provide the necessary depth, we’re going to limit the discussion on site to the top three or four trends. And that’s where you come in.
Take a look at the list of 10 and vote here for your top issues. Even if you’re not able to go to the conference, we want to know what trends stand out to you as the most important, and useful, for your business. We’ll discuss and debate those issues at the conference and follow it up with an article for Environments for Aging. And we hope the conversation won’t end there.
So please take our survey—it takes less than 5 minutes. Then continue to follow us here, in the magazine, at our events, and via social media so we can stay on top of which trends have real staying power, and continue to identify exciting new models that enrich the lives of everyone as they age.
