Changes Made in Response to COVID-19 Will Improve Senior Living Even After the Pandemic Ends

13 Ways to Make Safer, More Social Environments for Seniors

Download the full report here [PDF].

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, but perhaps no group more acutely than older adults. Outbreaks in assisted-living and nursing-home environments in particular have forced operators to implement new design and operational protocols to protect the elders in their care. 

In December 2020, NK Architects convened a panel of leaders in senior living to discuss the pandemic, and it quickly emerged that their responses to COVID-19 have also addressed several long-standing issues around health and safety. When the crisis ends, many of those changes will remain, fostering environments that are safer, more social, and more supportive of residents’ overall wellbeing.

Shortly before we met, word broke that multiple COVID-19 vaccines were nearing approval and distribution. It was with this new hope in the air, paired with the expertise and insight of our panelists, that we shared our aspirations for the future of senior living.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

From our conversation emerged four design principles — and 13 specific interventions — that support care providers in fostering healthier, more connected environments for senior living, not just in times of crisis, but every day.

Use the Entire Campus

Live Outdoors

Outdoor space allows people to dine or socialize safely while enjoying the calming effects of nature — benefits that can extend year-round with covered porches, firepits and heat lamps. For residents who can’t get outside, consider ways to visually connect them to the outdoors.

Program the Parking Lot

If room numbers are displayed on windows, family members can socialize with residents from the comfort and safety of their cars. Parking lots can also double as drive-in theaters or places of exercise and recreation.

Adapt Existing Space

Have under-utilized rooms? Consider reusing spaces — like converting a supply closet into a consult room — to get more value out of existing real estate.

Connect Via Technology

Put Social Media on Display

Social media is a great way to stay connected. Allow residents to share their personal lives by connecting mobile devices to large video screens in public areas.

Build Livestream Studios

Connect residents virtually by using in-house studio space to broadcast entertainment, exercise programs, news and more — and allow family to log in remotely.

Expand Telemedicine

Telemedicine is not only more convenient, it also reduces the likelihood of infection. To expand access, create flexible consult rooms with AV equipment for connecting with medical providers.

Upgrade to Broadband

More technology requires more data. Broadband internet connections keep downloads running smoothly.

Establish Zones

Layer Privacy

For security, establish a spectrum of privacy — from fully public, to semipublic, to semiprivate, to fully private — and expand or restrict access to visitors in each zone as necessary.

Demarcate Thresholds

Use both visual markers and operational guidelines to demarcate public space from private space. These thresholds can be opened or closed as the need for security increases or decreases.

Foster Community at Multiple Scales

To build stronger connections amongst neighbors, establish smaller communities, both spatially and socially, within the larger population. Small groups also quarantine more easily when infection control is paramount.

Ensure Safety

Install Cleanable Materials

Flooring, upholstery and other materials may need to withstand intensive cleaning with UV light or bleach. Consider using materials pioneered in healthcare spaces that balance warmth with cleanability.

Upgrade HVAC Systems

MERV-13 filters remove most particulate matter and infectious agents from the air, but filtration at any level contributes to a healthier environment. Consider cost, local regulations and resident and staff wellbeing when installing and upgrading HVAC systems.

Consider Bipolar Ionization

Filtration systems can be made more effective with ionization, which attracts bacteria and other infectious agents to dust particles and makes them easier to remove from the environment.

Want to read more? Download the full report here.