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Senior living professionals are preparing for the baby boomer generation by equipping the public with advanced health offerings through new designs and technologies.
Both architects and senior living people are thinking about how to integrate elements of health like natural elements such as natural materials and natural lighting, enhanced community features. and community health centers to focus more on the citizen’s health, emotional and spiritual. to be.
By 2024, wellness is more than just having gyms or nutrition programs, according to Darla Esnard, co-director at design firm Ankrom Moison.
“There’s a general discussion around everything from light and air and how residents get it, to how they interact and have more choice,” Esnard said. .” “It’s not just about physical health and your health, but everything that heals you.”
Solana Beach, California-based Senior Resource Group (SRG) embodies wellness through things like biophilic design, which brings nature into the community with natural light and natural materials like wood and plants, to by Daniel Perez, vice president of real estate development. construction.
These things help reduce stress and feelings of isolation, Perez said. In addition, the company wants to make its community more accessible and encourage independence in citizens.
Strengthening health for the new generation
New development has been intense over the past 12 months, and in response some users have taken a fresh look at features and services within their community in preparation for future customers. good health.
Liberty Senior Living is constantly improving its health offerings for residents, both in terms of building structure and programming, much of which comes from gathering residents’ opinions about their needs and wants, according to Haley Kinne-Norris, who is an environmental health operator. and development program coordinator.
The Wilmington, North Carolina-based operation builds in public infrastructure and facilities such as fitness centers and locker rooms as large as possible to accommodate access and needs. other. The operator also develops measures to reduce noise from the facilities so that residents and visitors are not disturbed.
SRG’s Maravilla Scottsdale community in Scottsdale, Arizona, exemplifies the company’s biophilic design philosophy. The community underwent an expansion that included more natural resources, natural lighting and improved public spaces in order to renew its appearance and use for future children.
“There is a new generation of adults who are more active and driven by technology, so we have to respond to that,” Perez said. “That project will be a good example of the result of the implementation of those things.”
Greg Hunteman, president of Pi Architects, says that it is common for communities to find physical fitness offices near fitness centers to provide additional services for residents in order to promote health and wellness.
Hunteman noted that large dining halls divide the main dining hall into several intimate areas, which often include different fare and standard offerings such as takeout and to-go. He said that this approach can be seen in a recent project that Pi was involved in with the Forefront Living operation. The community, Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, now has a “strong sense of wellness” thanks to the combination of a health clinic and spa environment to focus on the body, mind and spirit.
“It was almost like a health club and a country club when you walked in,” Huntemann said. “It had a cafe with healthy options, it had a cool gym with special equipment, it had a nice pool to work out in. .. [and] fitness classes that can be shared across multiple groups. ”
Esnard said he is encouraged by the use of materials such as safe paints and natural wood in community building projects. Doing so could also help appeal to baby boomers, who he said are attracted to sustainable construction methods.
“I think we’re going to see more of that with the next census,” Esnard said. “We’re excited about it, because it’s something we’ve been looking at as designers for years.”
Technology also helps to live a healthy life
In addition to building community health-focused infrastructure, health professionals are also using technology in a variety of ways to enhance their health programs and offerings.
Liberty uses high-tech exercise equipment that helps show residents the proper way to use the equipment to get the most out of their workouts, Kinne-Norris said. In addition, they noted that the Liberty community offers “tech Tuesday” group activities where residents can learn skills such as using printers or ordering food from an app.
SRG provides residents with app-based control of functions such as lighting and air conditioning, helping to promote relaxation and better sleep habits while allowing them more control over the environment they love.
“Some things will change to control their homes, even from cooking, turning on the oven, turning the lights on and off, or controlling the air conditioning, especially in places like Arizona, during the summer they they really need to control their temperature,” said Perez.
Wearable technology is not a new trend in senior living, and operators have spent years providing residents with things like pendants and watches to help keep track of their health. But it’s still a way for workers to meet health needs, he said. Esnard added that his recent projects have included fitness centers with screens that help guide residents through activities. For example, that is seen in video technology that allows residents to lead classes for others in remote communities.
By incorporating some of these features, Esnard believes it is a marketable asset to residents.
“I think the idea of choice and flexibility in our society, to me, speaks to a healthy life for citizens, it gives them the dignity to be able to make their own decisions, even if they live in that community maybe some of those choices are made for them every day,” he said. “I like to look at it that way.”
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