Time for an Upgrade? Suggestions From a Commercial Builder for Assisted Living Facilities in Nassau County, NY Area
The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the design of senior facilities. Today’s trends lean toward spaces that feel more homey and less institutional; an emphasis on holistic wellness; and ease of maintenance for a clean and safe space. Time for an upgrade? Suggestions from a commercial builder for assisted living facilities in Nassau County, NY include the following seven trends.
1. A Home-Like Atmosphere
Giving seniors a home-like atmosphere helps foster positive attitudes and happiness. This can include giving each resident a private room with an ensuite bath; using soothing natural colors; furnishings with soft textures; and attractive lighting. Rather than pure utility (although assisted living facilities are hard on fabrics and surfaces) the trend is toward timeless elegance and surroundings that support a homelike environment.
2. Natural Spaces and Holistic Wellness
It has been proven that exposure to the color green soothes anxiety. The best source of green is living plants. Of course, not all facilities have available outdoor space for gardens; but even indoors, adding plants to common areas can help bring the outdoors in and help purify the air.
Ample natural light lifts the mood within the facility. Designs favor large windows both in common areas and in residents’ rooms. The comforting effect is especially powerful if the view shows gardens or trees.
Gyms, yoga and meditation spaces, and art studios promote emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health.
3. A Hospitality-Inspired Healthy Environment
To reduce the chances of infection, cleanability became a huge focus in 2020 and this trend continues in resident suites (where residents spend most of their time) and in common areas.
Assisted living facility residents are particularly vulnerable to infection. In addition to durable and easily cleanable fabrics and surfaces, many facilities are starting to divide up their dining rooms into more intimate “cubbies” that house just one table. This has emotional as well as practical results: more of a restaurant experience and less of an institutional cafeteria experience.
Giving seniors a more luxurious home-like experience while keeping this vulnerable population safe is as simple as good design that takes cues from top hotels and restaurants, which see heavy traffic and need to maintain a clean environment, yet manage to look elegant and inviting.
Double-occupancy rooms are largely a thing of the past. Not only does this help maintain safety, it also promotes a home-like feeling and the privacy that many residents crave.
Small vignette areas separated with decorative screens could be a way to create intimate spots for visiting friends and family, while maintaining social distancing (which is not likely to go away anytime soon among vulnerable populations). In lobbies, segregated visiting areas prevent non-residents from entering the facility.
An emphasis on tranquil and elegant spaces could mean the use of natural colors, plants, softly warm yet comfortably bright lighting, and sound-absorbing materials.
4. Comfort for Overworked Staff
It’s important to consider the needs of the facility staff, who are frequently overworked and stressed. Many of the same trends could be applied to staff areas including a separate entry for staff leading to an employee locker room complete with showers; comfortable sleeper sofas in the staff lounge (which would also feature tranquil lighting and decor, natural light, and private nooks where staff can charge their electronics and enjoy private conversations during their breaks), and if possible, an outdoor space just for staff.