The 2015 Environments for Aging Conference (Baltimore, April 18-21) turned out to be a standing-room-only affair, with 700 people on-site and 60 exhibitors—which meant that I got to announce from the stage that this was our biggest EFA Conference ever. The growth in number of attendees took us a bit by surprise, to be honest (and next year, we’ll have more room to spread out at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas). But the need for insight and best practices and strategies remains strong in the senior living and care markets, and there’s plenty of opportunity for designers and providers who want to thrive professionally while creating human-centered, comfortable environments for this valued demographic.
So what did we learn, after four days of tours, sessions, keynotes, exhibits, and networking? The EFA editors, like our attendees, tried to take in as much as possible. During the show, the editors wrote a slew of articles that share some of the insights gleaned from the educational opportunities they personally experienced. You’ll find links to all of those articles below. Did you attend the conference yourself and write up anything about your experiences? Let us know, and we can share your perspectives with our readers, as well.
EFA Community Tour: The Green House Residences at Stadium Place
Attendees of the Environments for Aging Conference in Baltimore checked out a certified Green House community and were offered plenty of lessons on how to get the details right in the design of this household model of care.
EFA Community Tour: Brightview Towson
The senior living community, located in Towson, Md., offered attendees of the 2015 Environments for Aging Conference a chance to tour the townhouse-style village that is designed to complement the surrounding neighborhood architecture.
EFA Keynote: Using Empathy To Create Better Designs
The Environments for Aging Conference kicked off with ideas from keynote speaker Marc Agronin on how to look beyond preconceptions about aging to design better long-term care facilities.
A Review Of European Dementia Villages
What makes European dementia villages different than in the United States? One architect explained at the Environments for Aging Conference in Baltimore.
Bringing New Care Models To Old Nursing Homes
A case study presented at the Environments for Aging Conference offered attendees insight into how a decades-old nursing home can be renovated into a modern senior living community by rethinking space allocations to better support resident-centered care.
Industry Experts Weigh In On Top 3 Senior Living Design Trends
A panel of industry experts discussed short-term rehab, downtown CCRCs, and remodeling versus rebuilding at the Environments for Aging Conference in Baltimore.
Lighting Indoor Spaces in Senior Environments
The fact that humans live best on a circadian rhythm is basic science. So why aren't more senior living facilities built with lighting to mimic it?
Keys To Building Better Intergenerational Designs
In this Environments for Aging Conference session, speakers shared how an integrated approach that includes health, technology, ecology, landscapes, and architectural diversity can create living environments that appeal to a variety of ages.
Is It Time To Move Beyond Memory Care?
Speakers at the Environments for Aging Conference discussed common approaches to memory care and asked if it's time for the industry to stop trying to perfect memory care and instead start looking for better ways to reintegrate residents into communities.
The Changemaker In All Of Us
The Center for Health Design honored industry all-star Jane Rohde with its Changemaker Award Sunday at the EFA Conference, followed by Rohde's afternoon keynote on advancing resident-centered design. The Center also awarded Betsy Brawley with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Designing Dementia Communities Using The 5 Senses
In this Environments for Aging Conference session, attendees learned how to use the five senses to design a dementia community that's familiar to residents, not confusing.
Strategies To Support Elegant Aging In Place
An architect and physical therapist share roadblocks that often prevent aging in place and how designing an appropriate built environment can help individuals thrive at home rather than leaving before they want to.
EFA Keynote: Technology’s Role In Meeting The Challenges Of Aging
The Environments for Aging Conference wrapped up in Baltimore with a closing keynote presentation from Sara J. Czaja, professor and expert on aging, who highlighted how access to technology and an understanding of its benefits can help to improve the lives of seniors.
