The global population of humans living to 100 and older is predicted to increase to nearly 3.7 million by 2050, but according to the Stanford Center on Longevity, the institutions and policies in place today are unprepared for this growing life expectancy.

Creating longevity-ready communities is one way society can support the needs of those thriving beyond 70 years old. A recent discussion about senior living facilities, hosted by BIFMA, explored the trends and opportunities for designing these spaces.

“We really need to focus on prolonging independence and active lifestyles,” said Jen McDermott, principal and global practice director of senior living interiors at design and architecture firm HKS.

At the onset of a project, her team focuses on the lifestyle of residents within the larger community—looking at what draws them away from a smaller senior living environment. Clients for recent projects have requested co-working spaces as residents remain in the workforce, flexible hobby rooms, and master-classes, such as culinary experiences, that support life-long learning opportunities.

A new approach also prioritizes all aspects of wellness: physical, emotional, environmental, intellectual and financial. Other trends extend to smart home technology and fitness spaces where residents can personalize workouts.

Creating areas that support multi-generational connections also brings new design opportunities. “As people are living longer, it’s going to re-shape the family dynamic,” said McDermott. “One project we just completed has a bowling alley; it’s a great space for all ages to gather.”

Aging in place

Sara Marberry, a healthcare design knowledge expert, marketing consultant, writer, speaker and blogger with Sara Marberry, LLC, said aging in place doesn’t always mean remaining in the home where one lived for 25 years. “There are consultants out there who can help retrofit for safety,” she said “But many of the homes we live in are just not designed for aging.”

By thinking about aging in place within the community, many of McDermott’s clients are looking to adopt a model where all units are licensed as assisted living. “What this does is it allows for that higher level of care to be brought into the unit when it’s needed,” she said. “Or, if a couple is living there, and the spouse needs more assistance, they don’t have to move throughout that continuum; they can stay within their apartment.”

These units are designed to be adaptable, with accessible bathrooms and full kitchens with appliances. “It’s not just for the residents living there but for families coming in,” she added. “If they want to make a meal for their parents, they can do that.”

HKS partnered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on an initiative called Home as a Health Care Hub, which looks for design solutions that view the home as a primary hub of care delivery. It also focuses on integrating medical treatment in an equitable and reliable way to support health and wellness.

A virtual reality tool for medical device developers and manufacturers and other stakeholders allows them to walk through real-life scenarios, such as managing diabetes, so they can better tailor solutions for the home.

The middle market

In the U.S., while the population of high-income earning seniors is expected to rise, Marberry acknowledged the demand within the middle market. “By 2033, almost 16 million seniors over 70 will be considered middle market consumers,” she said. “Nearly a quarter of them won’t be able to afford private pay senior living options or qualify for Medicaid. There is this huge opportunity to address this middle market.”

Many communities are looking to offer a more accessible pricing model or à la carte services, McDermott pointed out. “Rental options are going to be increasing instead of buy-in fees,” she added. “Operators are also really trying to streamline operations. We see it with the use of robots. . . it’s leveraging technology to reduce those overhead costs.”

Replacing the concierge with a scheduling app or incorporating more resident-led activities in place of hiring staff are other prospective alternatives. McDermott envisions fewer amenities, such as scaling back on luxury features like spas. High-end multiple restaurant venues could reduce into a more flexible plan, with one dining option that transforms from morning to evening. Situating living facilities into more urban settings can also tap into the benefits of the outward communities and walkable amenities, she noted.

Creating a community of tiny homes is another trend on the horizon, where residents own their home within a small neighbourhood. Cozy Home is actively promoting this option for middle-income boomers, looking to jumpstart communities with senior living providers who own land.

As projects for middle-income seniors take shape, designers are looking for ways to incorporate concepts with new products that are targeted for that market’s price point.

“For flooring, we could use more off-the-shelf type products,” says McDermott. “With those higher-end communities, we are looking at custom carpet. We’re not going to be able to do that for the middle-market projects. We’d love to see more designs coming out to meet that need. Also, because the spaces have to be designed to be more flexible, we see more open floor plans. The need to define spaces with flooring (not using walls) is going to increase.”

Addressing climate change and ESG

Extreme weather events are also top of mind for many operators, who are more readily considering how to evacuate buildings and temporarily place residents in other communities.

“I think it’s our responsibility as designers to rethink how we’re designing buildings to withstand these disasters, like a fire, and also look at how to retrofit existing structures to protect them from future devastations,” McDermott noted.

The industry is also beginning to embrace the economic benefits of adopting environmental, social and governance (ESG) principals.

“Many of the healthcare REITS that fund capital projects for healthcare want to work with organizations that have good ESG policies,” said Marberry. Reducing the carbon footprint, both operational and embodied, is a cornerstone of the environment pillar.”

To address the social aspect, designing for diversity, equity and inclusion is key. “We want to create environments that accommodate diverse needs, preferences and backgrounds of residents to create that sense of belonging,” McDermott urged. “We used to design chapels as part of these communities years ago. Now, we are doing more mediation rooms that can cater to a variety of spiritual needs.”

Artwork, fabrics, textiles and dining options can all incorporate cultural diversity. Sourcing building materials and interior finishes that avoid using forced labour is another way to address the social pillar, Marberry adds, pointing to Design for Freedom, a movement that brings industry leaders together to eliminate forced labour in the building materials supply chain.

Many residents also have sensory challenges with noise, lighting or constantly living around other people. Designers are looking to accommodate these various needs. “Social isolation is important for people who may have difficulty connecting with others,” McDermott added. “As we think about the social aspect, we take into consideration neurodivergent residents and how the environment plays a big role in their lives and daily activities.”