4 Takeaways from the Environments for Aging Conference

The annual conference brought together designers and architects to discuss how they can create new, safe and innovative spaces for seniors.

By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor


Every so often a senior care facility makes headlines for not providing quality care for its residents or that they are abruptly closing down, but while these few instances garner the most attention, most facilities are already striving to improve their operations. The annual Environments for Aging conference demonstrated how these buildings have their residents in mind from the very beginning stages. 

The annual conference kicked off in Charlotte last month, bringing together hundreds of designers and architects to discuss how they can better create new, safe and innovative spaces for seniors. Throughout the course of the three-day event, attendees learned about how to make their facilities more resilient, how to create more elder-accessible restrooms, the best ways to design inclusive spaces and more. Here are a few things we learned at the show: 

1.) Designers should plan spaces that allow seniors to feel empowered during a dining experience. This means having contrasting elements, such as a dark tablecloth and lighter plateware, that makes it easier to see.  

2.) Physical environments are influential for human behavior. This is important at any age, but it becomes more important to people with lower capabilities, such as aging. Anyone that is getting less social engagement than they desire can suffer from declining health. It is essential that spaces are designed to have a community aspect to it. 

3.) Resiliency is a cycle, and it always starts with being prepared. Having design strategies already in place that protect a building in the event of extreme weather can save a facility a large sum of money afterwards.  

4.) Senior care facilities are not the place to create a place for solitude or begin experimenting with your distance design. The way these facilities are designed can influence engagement behaviors. More on-campus recreation opportunities relate to high proportions of residents engaging in physical and social recreation. We know now that architecture has the power to create a community. Putting aesthetics aside, designers have to start thinking within and think about how our buildings can bring people together. 

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor for the facilities market.  



May 3, 2023


Topic Area: Construction , Interior Design


Recent Posts

The Future of Backup Power Systems in Healthcare Facilities

Manufacturers discuss what trends are shaping the future of backup power systems in healthcare.


Infection Control is Key to Ongoing Measles Outbreak

Infection control is essential to protecting both patients and staff from contracting measles.


Kaiser Permanente to Open New Parker Medical Offices

It also announced it's in the early stages of planning a rebuild and expansion of its Westminster Medical Offices.


Skanska Completes Renovation for New Sutter Health Care Center

The new facility will provide internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, as well as lab and imaging services.


Probiotic Cleaners: The Start of a Cleaning Revolution?

Advantages of probiotic cleaning include fewer resistant genes and cost savings through decreased antibiotic use.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.