A trend is defined as a state of fashion or the general direction in which something is developing or changing. At studioSIX5, an interior design firm focused on senior living facilities, designers are helping senior living communities stay fashionable and ahead of the game, taking the lead as the change agents of the senior living industry.
As 2018 kicks off, the studioSIX5 team has forecasted the following trends for the senior living market:
• Designing boutique and upscale communities for seniors and their baby boomer family members has been at the forefront of design considerations. But employee retention has become a new focus. Senior living communities are looking at ways they can cater to their employees’ needs in ways which result in increased efficiency and job satisfaction. Not only do operators want employees to feel comfortable while doing their job, they want them to feel valued as team members providing valuable care to residents.
• While integrated technology is now a norm, studioSIX5 anticipates that 2018 will bring about a heavier focus on building scalable technological capabilities into community infrastructures.
• The boom of building more urban communities in 2017 is creating a push to integrate senior living communities into master-planned communities, where amenities like salons, dining areas, and fitness centers are public-facing to encourage increased socialization with the community at large.• Designers are encouraging providers to include accent pieces and décor with local flavor, creating a sense of history and pride of place within a space. Mass-produced items have less character and feel less personal.
LED lighting is being incorporated beyond just saving energy and is being used more and more to promote healthy sleep patterns and reduce anxiety by aligning lamp color temperature with residents’ circadian rhythms. Photo: studioSIX5
• Consumer demand is causing manufacturers to embrace senior living requirements when designing products, materials, and furnishings. This rise in availability and variety will bring about more aesthetically-pleasing, functional products and furnishings for senior living.
• The use of less restrictive cooking technologies such as hoodless cooking, sous vide, and induction ranges will expand farm-to-table offerings and menu offerings to higher levels of care.
• Spaces with multiple uses and flexibility are still popular, but instead of having an area deemed as the “multipurpose room,” providers are looking at amenities that they can combine to serve a variety of purposes. For example, instead of having both a library and a coffee shop, they are combining the two.
• LED lighting is being incorporated beyond just saving energy and is being used more and more to promote healthy sleep patterns and reduce anxiety by aligning lamp color temperature with residents’ circadian rhythms.
• Luxe environments are moving beyond an understated elegance toward designs featuring jewel tones, mixed metals, and lush fabrics, allowing designers to create opulent custom pieces tailored to meet the needs of seniors.
• Senior living operators are creating opportunities for purposeful engagement in programming and operations, rather than simply providing activities. This encourages residents to participate in actual daily activities like meal prep, laundry, and gardening. The three zones of socialization will be used to create spaces which promote integration for each resident’s choice of socialization.
Designers are encouraging providers to include accent pieces and décor with local flavor, creating a sense of history and pride of place within a space. Mass-produced items have less character and feel less personal. Photo: studioSIX5
Related Stories
Senior Living Design | Apr 18, 2016
CBRE: Senior housing industry shifts its focus from real estate to business
Last year was a strong year for the sector, which saw records set in per-unit pricing and low capitalization rates.
Senior Living Design | Apr 14, 2016
Creating a home for eldercare using the ‘Green House’ design concept
VOA Associates’ Douglas King offers design considerations in implementing the Green House concept in eldercare for continuing care retirement communities.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 24, 2016
Senior housing sector experiences record-setting year, says CBRE
Senior housing occupancy is at its highest level since 2007, and 2015 was a record year for sales and institutional transactions, according to CBRE.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 1, 2016
Top 10 kitchen design trends for 2016
Charging stations, built-in coffeemakers, and pet stations—these are among the top kitchen design trends for the coming year, according to a new survey of kitchen and bath designers by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Senior Living Design | Jan 27, 2016
Senior housing development designed to battle loneliness, inactivity
Architects with Witherford Watson Mann unveiled plans for a community residence in South London, where elderly people share space with neighbors at the center of an urban district.
| Jan 14, 2016
How to succeed with EIFS: exterior insulation and finish systems
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
Sponsored | Senior Living Design | Aug 5, 2015
Douglas County Community and Senior Center, a focal point for all ages
In Douglas County, 30 percent of the 46,000 residents are senior citizens; thus the need for a senior community center had been vocalized for decades.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 27, 2015
The empire strikes back: George Lucas proposes new affordable housing complex he'll finance alone
The latest plans are seen by some as payback for community opposition to his past real estate ventures.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 10, 2015
KTGY homes in on seniors with new studio
Its director, Doug Ahlstrom, says designs will emphasize socialization and community.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2015
New Appraisal Institute form aids in analysis of green commercial building features
The Institute’s Commercial Green and Energy Efficient Addendum offers a communication tool that lenders can use as part of the scope of work.