The pandemic has ushered in positive changes as well as created some new obstacles in senior living design, noted speakers during the EFA Spring Summit, a virtual complement to the Environments for Aging Expo & Conference that was held April 27-28. “COVID-19 has definitely changed the world—some things for the better and some things have not been as exciting,” said LuAnn Thoma-Holec, principal and founder at Thoma-Holec Design (Mesa, Ariz.), who presented “Senior Living Design for Infection Prevention and Aesthetics” with Keith Stanton, director of design development at Thoma-Holec Design (Scottsdale, Ariz.).

While the focus on adaptability and flexibility of spaces gained momentum, amenity spaces, such as restaurants, wine cellars, and theaters, remained unused for the better part of a year. “There was a short pause while we thought about how resident amenities should be handled. The desire for these spaces hasn’t changed—the focus on hospitality design is moving forward,” Stanton said.

To forge ahead, a strategy for cleanliness in such spaces has been embraced, following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) best practices for cleaning high-touch surfaces and using EPA-approved cleaning solutions. “Make sure you are reading the labels and using the appropriate product for the appropriate environment,” Stanton said.

Awareness of and demand for clean spaces are also heightened now. “If it doesn’t feel clean, it’s not going to give residents and their families the impression of clean.” Stanton said. “The design trend is to make the space feel clean and crisp.” For example, large, open, airy lobbies that incorporate finishes and fabrics that are easy to maintain and resilient to contamination can set the tone for a community’s approach to cleanliness, he added.


Another recurring theme during the pandemic has been the need for flexibility in design and the ability to utilize space for multiple functions, the presenters noted. For example, chairs rather than loveseats, lightweight furniture that can be rearranged, and movable architectural dividers in spaces such as the lobby and dining rooms are solutions that should be considered to support infection prevention in gathering places. “In a theater, for example, we’ve moved away from bolting down seats to offering seating that can be moved around for social distancing,” Stanton said.

In addition to flexible amenity spaces, Thoma-Holec and Stanton identified touchless fixtures, isolated entry points for deliveries and visitors, small house models, and access to outdoor space as design elements likely to be seen on senior living projects going forward to support infection prevention.

Finally, COVID-19 was identified as a catalyst for the adoption of technology in senior living, as well, from telemedicine to smart devices to virtual programming for activities like fitness classes. “[Virtual programming] is on the rise and here to stay,” Stanton said, adding that the firm is looking at increasing square footage of fitness spaces and combining outdoor space to accommodate a variety of remote activities.

Missed the live EFA Spring Summit? Registered attendees will have on-demand access to the sessions through their event portal link for one year.