Each May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) celebrates Older Americans Month and encourages the nation to recognize our older generations' contributions and commit to serving elders in the community. This year, ACL's theme centers around the power of connection and the role social connections and meaningful relationships play in supporting aging in place. Interior design can have a profound impact on how seniors interact with one another and comfortability as they age.
Senior Living Communities Help Combat Loneliness
The World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institute on Aging (NIA) all stress the health risks social isolation and loneliness pose for older adults. According to the CDC, social isolation is the "lack of social connections," while loneliness is the "feeling of being alone." Social isolation and the feeling of being lonely can contribute to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, dementia, depression and premature death. On the other hand, the NIA found that those "who engage in meaningful, productive activities with others tend to live longer, boost their mood, and have a sense of purpose."
With such serious health risks, senior living communities meet a growing need. One way to help foster connection and meaningful activities is through communal spaces. Each of our senior living projects involves designing amenities for residents, whether hair salons, dining areas, gardens, fitness rooms, etc., and we carefully consider how best to configure the spaces to promote the most interaction and relationship-building.
In Verena at Hilliard, we prioritized hospitality and connectivity throughout the common areas, designing indoor and outdoor amenity spaces to inspire vibrant living and community engagement. The 9,000 sq. ft. clubhouse gave residents a welcoming, open lobby/reception area and centralized dining room with vaulted ceilings and woodwork, plus a bistro bar and support spaces. The old mechanical rooms and storage space of the existing residential building turned into a large recreation space, spa, craft room and massage room. The outdoor areas originally were incomplete – we transformed them into connective greenways, activated with raised garden beds, a putting green, a bocce ball court, and a terrace with a firepit to create even more opportunities for gathering.
Design and Aging
Aging in place has become a popular term, but what does it mean to age in place? Forbes found varying definitions, the most common being growing old in one's own home comfortably and safely. However, some families may not realize Dad's home or favorite chair may not adapt to his abilities as he ages, putting him more at risk at home. Meanwhile, senior living communities, and more specifically, life care and continuing care retirement communities, have worked to become safer alternatives to staying at home. Residents often don't have to worry about moving should their abilities change because they can continue to receive the care they need and then some within the same community.
Friendship Village in the St. Louis area is an example of one such community. Our team worked to ensure our designs supported the community's MyLife Retirement Living, emphasizing family, community and the unique needs of individuals. We were challenged to provide a seamless transition between care levels for residents.
The common areas offered variety and support choices, and accommodations for those in the therapy suite. We also created flexible household designs to support skilled nursing or memory care, adapting to current and future resident needs as well as market demand. Color was a key design element, with consistent corridor colors supporting wayfinding and vibrant residential-style resident doors helping memory care residents find their way back home.
Being a Light to Older Americans
Older Americans Month is about celebrating our older generation and serving them in our communities. With each project, studio 121 aims to enhance each resident's quality of life through exceptional and thoughtful design. We charge our readers and followers to find ways to serve elders in your community throughout May and every day. You never know how meaningful a smile, gift, visit or helping hand may be to someone battling loneliness.