» Holistic well-being is this year’s top trend in senior living design, according to a Direct Supply white paper. Access to outdoor spaces, ample natural light and organic design elements help support mental health, according to the paper. Through strategic community design, operators can help boost connectivity to the natural environment to benefit the health of everyone in the building, the firm noted. Other top design trends included an emphasis on cleanable fabrics and surfaces, durable furnishings and playful accents.
» Adaptability and innovation have been “foundational” to the success over time of continuing care retirement communities and will be key to future success as well, according to specialty investment bank Ziegler. Four trends are shaping the future of life plan communities: a reduced emphasis on skilled nursing, contract diversification, rebranding and an increase in scale, said Lisa McCracken, the firm’s director of senior living research and development.
» In July, Sunrise Senior Living announced the opening of its second and newest community on Staten Island, Sunrise of New Dorp. Units are designed by the company’s in-house design team to support residents’ comfort and safety, featuring custom finishes and an emergency response system. The community combines an elegant mix of modern interior design touches across its common areas and private spaces and features custom furniture built for residents’ needs. At the heart of the community, constructed in partnership with KBE Building Corp. and PWC Companies, sits a multi-functional bistro area, offering a place for coffee and snacks as well as seating options for lounging in front of the large fireplace, dining, playing games and socializing. An enclosed courtyard spanning the entire width of the community will provide outdoor space for residents to enjoy year-round and includes a pergola with seating. The community also has a theater room and boutique nail and hair salon.
» Senior living providers can adapt HVAC systems to increase protection of occupants, according to Vito Ilacqua, PhD, a scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Environments Division. Viruses, including COVID-19, travel on particles. Filtering out those airborne particles can help reduce the risk of infectious agents in the air, Ilacqua said.
