Finding Home Sweet Home In Senior Living

Based on the survey, the ideal kitchen contains drawers to easily view access and access kitchen necessities as well as appliances that are arranged for safe, easy access, as shown in this rendering.

When seniors and families are exploring independent living senior communities, amenities and the overall campus are priorities. Yet, in reality, the residential unit design is the piece of the decision-making puzzle that will make them feel most at home and allow them to continue many of the same habits and activities that they’ve become accustomed to in their own homes.

So what makes a senior living apartment a “home sweet home?” AG Architecture (Wauwatosa, Wis.) has been exploring this question as part of a comprehensive effort to understand what boomers want. This influential demographic of approximately 74 million people is redefining aging, so our firm embarked on an information-gathering mission to learn more about the next generation of senior living, beginning with a focus on unit design. We wanted to understand what’s most important within the design of each living unit and how to organize the space to best support living, dining, resting, entertaining, and personal care.

The survey, conducted in 2018, was distributed to a list of nationwide providers, developers, and design professionals as well as community residents to understand the current perceptions of those involved in the planning process as well as those living in these communities. More than 63 percent of respondents in our survey identified themselves as residents ages 55-84.

The information from this targeted demographic was combined with our firm’s work in senior living across the country. These insights offer a global view that can be combined with a local perspective to help developers and providers select the right details to create improved living environments for current and future independent living residents.

Here are five insights from our survey:

1. Entry with a view. When moving into an independent living community, it’s important for seniors to still maintain some of the same design features and customs as they had before. One of these features is a distinct entry point where they can welcome guests into the home. This space should be designed to provide an enticing view into the rest of the home and allow people to comfortably transition into the living space. Furthermore, survey respondents reinforced the need to create spaces with deep connections to the outdoors, including direct access via a sunroom, screened porch, or balcony.

2. The heart of a home. While downsizing to apartment living, survey respondents said they still want their kitchen to be a hub of activity with enough space to prepare an occasional meal and have space for entertaining. While they want room for friends and family, they want the kitchen to be highly efficient with usable storage and accessibility as top priorities. Design features that can help meet these needs include walk-in pantries and sliding shelves and drawers that make accessing food and supplies easier and support aging in place.

3. Stylish and ample living space. Within independent living, respondents noted they’re looking for vaulted ceilings and architectural details that add style as well as spaces that allow for personalization, such as a media wall, gas fireplace, or art wall. Seventy-six percent of survey respondents said they want additional living space, from a guest suite or office to a place to explore hobbies.

4. A sweet master suite. When it comes to the design of the master bedroom, seniors are definitely looking for a haven. More than a place for a bed, they want a lounge space to unwind. Accessible master baths were another priority, with preferences for designs that improve accessibility while providing a higher-end aesthetic such as no-threshold showers, glass shower doors to maintain accessible widths, and linen cabinets instead of medicine cabinets to minimize reach issues.

5. Innovative storage solutions. When it comes to storage, survey respondents are looking for as much storage as possible and they want it easily accessible. Per the survey, 53 percent prefer a walk-in closet within a living unit, while 42 percent said they would be satisfied if extra storage was provided in a remote location on the same floor as the living unit. A small utility room with in-unit laundry equipment and miscellaneous storage was also highly desirable.

Understanding the living needs and desires of older adults can help guide the design and development of senior living communities and create positive first and lasting impressions. By balancing homelike features with a focus on accessibility and safety, independent living operators can offers seniors a residential unit that’s functional while enhancing quality of life.