COVID–19 shifted the way the world interacts, forcing all of us to change our routines and adapt to a completely different lifestyle. The pandemic also has increased awareness of how isolation affects us, including aging seniors, and has reinforced my belief in the importance of keeping empathy at the forefront of the design process for senior-living environments.
Over the past year, I’ve had discussions with our health care and senior-living studio designers as well as senior-living developers, operators and caregivers to uncover design elements that could help answer important questions that have arisen in response to COVID. For example, how can design help fight loneliness for residents of these communities? Before the pandemic, how did residents maintain their independence? Were they capable of getting around their communities to dine, socialize and stay healthy? What part can design play in slowing the spread of the flu or any other virus, such as COVID? The following are some ideas that may be beneficial in allowing seniors to stay safe and fully engage in their communities.