5 Features Needed to Properly Update Senior Living Facilities in Brooklyn and Queens, NY
Our senior citizens deserve the best, so if you’re a property manager looking into updating your senior living facilities in the Brooklyn and Queens, NY areas, you’ll want to include the appropriate features to properly update your facilities. Here are five features that we think you may want to consider when planning the needed upgrades.
Related: Here Are 4 Ways to Make Senior Living Facilities Feel More Homey in Suffolk County and Brooklyn, NY
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility
By law, your facility is required to have services that are equally accessible for individuals with disabilities as part of civil rights legislation. It’s likely that your facility is already compliant since many of the accessibility needs of elderly people are the same as people with disabilities.
These modifications may include furniture, windows, and all equipment to be easily usable for those in wheelchairs. The facility may need to be equipped with grab bars in certain locations (such as showers and hallways) to prevent falls, potential tripping hazards may need to be removed, and dining facilities must be easily accessible on each floor. ADA-compliant signs must also be easy to see and read, meaning the characters and backgrounds cannot create any glare and must have high contrast. Signs must also be placed in specific locations and mounted according to ADA specifications.
Durability for Repetitive Cleaning
It’s essential that the materials used to make upgrades to your senior living facility are highly durable to withstand the necessary repetitive cleaning to keep residents and employees healthy and safe. Just because it’s durable doesn’t mean it can’t be aesthetically pleasing and stylish in design. A construction professional can make recommendations on style and design choices that will be highly durable and ideal for senior living facilities.
Slip-Resistant Flooring
In a facility filled with seniors, everything must be done to avoid slips and falls. One of the most important features is often slip-resistant flooring. There are numerous colors and styles of slip-resistant flooring materials available, including materials that resemble wood flooring but don’t require the maintenance of a traditional wood floor. You can also choose flooring that resembles natural stone or terrazzo style flooring that can withstand heavy foot traffic. Depending upon the style of your senior living facility update features, there are slip-resistant flooring options that will accommodate.
Eco-friendly Materials
When updates are needed, it’s a great time to make replacements using eco-friendly materials. When you have the option, choosing environmentally safe and friendly materials can make your senior living facility more appealing, especially as millennials begin searching for facilities for their elderly parents—millennials value eco-friendly options and it will be a great selling point for your facility.
UV Lighting HVAC Systems and Air Filtration
Sanitization of facilities has become more important than ever for ensuring the health and safety of both residents and employees. UV lighting for HVAC systems is often a great option to keep everyone safe. The purpose of UV lighting in HVAC systems is to kill bacteria and pollutants as the air passes through the ventilation system. This feature can create a cleaner environment, can lead to decreased energy costs, higher HVAC efficiency and airflow, while also removing bacteria, pollutants, and allergens from the air.