By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

Nobody really prepares you for the day when a loved one needs to transition to a senior care community. Sure, the internet can aid in endless amounts of research, but there is never really the confirming factor that the person will be safe and well taken care of until they are there. It’s no surprise that luxury senior care facilities have been popping up in recent years to help ease this burden on families.  

It’s important to remember that these facilities become people’s homes. It’s where their community is and where they plan to live out their life. It’s crucial that designers complete a risk assessment for the development based on their region and identify and assign costs within their budget to better ensure that the space will thrive.  

Healthcare Facilities Today recently spoke with David Banta, partner senior housing practice leader; Melanie Hanna, director of interior design; and Grant Warner, senior housing practice leader of the BKV Group on how designers can create an environment where residents can thrive.  

HFT: How do you ensure that materials used are durable and easy to maintain while still creating a welcoming environment? 

Melanie Hanna: When selecting materials for senior living projects, BKV prioritizes longevity, performance, and resident well-being throughout the design process. Durable, non-porous solid surfaces are carefully chosen for their resistance to harsh cleaners, ensuring long-term functionality and hygiene in high-use areas. Cleanable, high-performance textiles are thoughtfully integrated into all within-reach spaces to enhance comfort while maintaining ease of maintenance and infection control. 

A soothing material palette—featuring warm wood tones and soft, neutral hues of blue and green—fosters a sense of tranquility and connection to nature, which has been shown to provide positive neurological benefits for both residents and visitors. These biophilic elements support cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. 

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To further enhance comfort, warm, adjustable lighting introduces a hospitality-inspired ambiance while supporting circadian rhythm regulation, which is essential for sleep quality, mood, and overall health. This holistic approach to materiality and lighting ensures that every space feels both inviting and functional, seamlessly blending residential warmth with the durability required for senior living environments. 

HFT: How do you design for optimal indoor air quality to minimize respiratory risks? 

David Banta: Fresh air is crucial. Even if not required by mechanical code. Although more jurisdictions are adopting newer mechanical building codes that require fresh air to be provided in corridors and units. The code also requires energy recovery systems for the mechanical units making the buildings more energy efficient and saving overall costs. This is even more important for some types of less costly HVAC systems that either don’t handle outside air well or need to be supplemented. 

Grant Warner: Humidity control, while costly in some systems, can greatly improve indoor air quality for some seniors who are uncomfortable with air that is too dry – from packaged terminal air conditioners, for example. Improvements in filtration technologies, especially because of the pandemic, are a great way to improve indoor air quality. 

Ceiling fans, especially in southern climates, are a nice way to provide residents with some measure of control over their own environments and can provide soothing gentle movement of air over the body that can have other benefits. Large diameter low revolution fans in large open spaces can make a gentle difference as well. 

Radiant heating under floor surfaces can improve indoor air quality through subtle convection instead of warm / hot forced air blowing through a space. Chilled beam HVAC systems have gentler more passive air movement to be less noticeable to seniors, especially those with thinning skin and exacerbated sensitivity. 

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.