The LIFE Center Brings Together Senior Living and Community School In Logan, Kansas

David Wright of HFG Architecture discusses bringing together senior living and a community school at LIFE Center in Logan, Kan.
Published: October 14, 2024

Slated to open this fall, the Logan Intergenerational Family Education (LIFE) Center in Logan, Kan., aims to meet the rural community’s growing senior care and education needs by integrating a new 36-bed skilled nursing community and a new pre-K through 4th grade school. To encourage connections between residents and students, the project includes an intergenerational playground and garden, and seniors will be encouraged to participate in school functions and classroom activities such as reading to students.

David Wright, CEO at HFG Architecture

Image credit: HFG

Here, David Wright, CEO at HFG Architecture (Wichita, Kan.) and principal in charge of the project, discusses the benefits of creating environments where seniors and students can thrive together.

What drove the idea to integrate senior living and an elementary school?

The local Dane G. Hansen Foundation, spearheaded by board member Brien Stockman, sought to provide an innovative community initiative to address the needs for seniors that were not being met in the existing traditional nursing home. The community’s elementary school was also outdated and too small for its educational needs.

An ad hoc group of community members, education staff, and senior living staff collaborated to review existing research on the benefits of combining elementary schools and senior living, find examples of similar initiatives, and tour regional facilities to learn what worked and what didn’t.

International research has proven the benefits of combining elementary schools and senior living, which Stockman and the Hansen Foundation wanted to provide for the small community. For example, when seniors read books to elementary students, they find a sense of purpose and prevent long-term cognitive decline, according to Cambridge’s International Psychogeriatrics Association. The students benefit from more one-on-one attention and a sense of care.

How did you approach project planning and design?

Our team, led by Tim Dudte, senior design principal at HFG, met with elected officials, school administrators, board members, and even high school students to understand the needs of the community and what could work for them. The team wanted to continue the school’s innovation as they integrated numerous hands-on projects such as gardening, art for community display, and drone-based photography. We wanted this project to be unique. There’s nothing like it in this region.

How is the project designed to foster interaction among residents and students?

Interaction was probably the most important foundational aspect of our design. Every decision we made was based on the desire for interaction and collaboration between residents and students. For example, a playground with several benches stands at the center of the site, allowing seniors to step outside their homes and interface with the students.

We also incorporated other opportunities for interactions, for example, providing residents with easier access to the educational building to attend high school performances and read to elementary students.

A new high school gym, located in the core of the new campus and adjacent to the zone between the school and the senior living facility, was integrated into the design and provides an opportunity for residents to attend sports events. As other ideas were considered, such as elementary students coming to sing in the senior living community’s common area, it was important that we ensure accessibility not just in the senior living spaces but between the facilities as well.

An area at the core of the main elementary building is called “Scholastic Alley,” a space where seniors are invited to help elementary students with different skills and core educational concepts.

How is demand for intergenerational communities evolving?

As more research is published and word spreads about the benefits of this model, we are seeing an upward trend in demand and expect this to continue. The real driver is the outcome. The benefits extend to both sides; not only do these seniors report feeling rejuvenated in this setting, but young students also develop a sense of respect for elders.

What challenges do rural communities face in meeting the needs of seniors?

Rural communities often struggle to meet the needs of their constituents due to financial constraints. When faced with a finance crunch, the community’s focus typically becomes money-making industries, which is not senior living. These individuals are often receiving social security income or pensions and covered by Medicare. Seniors often require specific skilled care, necessitating employee recruitment from other areas, which can be challenging for a small community that doesn’t offer the same level of amenities as a bigger city.

What lessons can the industry learn from this project?

Thinking outside the box can often address multiple problems with one solution. The Logan community needed more space for education as well as senior living. Instead of addressing those problems separately, stakeholders educated themselves on forward-thinking research and learned how one project could provide several solutions. Beyond the senior living industry, it’s important for community members to know they can have an impact on significant issues impacting the lives of those in their communities.

Looking ahead, what trends do you anticipate shaping senior living design in the next decade?

I think we’ll see fewer projects maintaining the typical senior living model. Whether it’s traditional skilled nursing homes or assisted living, there are opportunities such as the LIFE Center to break the mold without breaking the bank. Throughout this project, we found several ways to personalize the the new senior living facility, including color-coordinating the resident pods to help seniors identify their respective spaces and adding memory boxes outside each bedroom for residents to customize with family photos, mementos, and other personal items. These seemingly small details mean a lot, and I anticipate the next decade will see more incorporation of person-focused design.

For a First Look at this project, go here.

Tracey Walker is managing editor of Healthcare Design. She can be reached at [email protected].

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