In the first in a series of Senior Living Design Symposiums, experts identified and discussed the driving trends in senior living design.  

The top five trends observed included:

• Hospitable luxury

• User-driven design

• Green house project passion

• Nature inspired healing

•  Greater diversity in flooring selection — increase in modular carpet use

Held in Jackson Hole, Wyo., the two-day event, hosted by J+J Flooring Group,  brought together leading practitioners of senior living design representing firms across the United States including California, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and Virginia. 

For designers, the open exchange of ideas offered lessons about other firms’ approaches to common challenges along with an update on the state of the industry. There was also a focus on the growing study of evidence-based design and J+J Flooring’s research that supports these human-focused principles, according to a news release.

Trending discussions among the group focused on the deinstitutionalization of senior living facilities and the push for an increase of hospitality influences. Many attendees are seeing the surge of Baby Boomers who are demanding different standards in their accommodations. Residents are now embracing technology and wanting more contemporary and stylish living environments. Design elements for successful assisted living must not only provide safety and care, but also unique facilities with familiar, homelike qualities. The Greenhouse concept is frequently becoming a driver to achieve a more residential, family-like environment.

Many attendees also noted that elders are being given more input into the design of their spaces. Trends such as nature-inspired aesthetics, warmer finishes, abstract organics and color selections with hues of greens and purples are becoming more and more prominent in long-term care facility design. Each of these trends assist in the concept of bringing nature indoors  —  which is continually being proven to help elders with healing and comfort in the progressive stages of aging.

In addition to the overall finish selection, flooring preferences are also seeing a transformation. Carpet tile is continuing to grow as a preferred option to broadloom carpet and traditional patterns are being updated with modern color and styling. Many times mixed flooring types are used to accommodate the use of the individual space, however room carpet tends to remain neutral with small scale, textural patterns. Because multi-flooring selections are incorporated there is a high importance given to transitions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults age 65 and older.

Tara Hill, founder of Little Fish Think Tank in Atlanta said, "It was inspiring to be part of a group of designers who are all well informed on how to design vibrant environments that promote health, welfare and quality of life. I left with a better understanding of the push toward creating mixed use communities with space functions that encompass a larger age span and that focus on robust living. Truly, today’s senior living has arrived as flourishing living for an aging audience."