Wellness Is The Key Designing Secret To Support Senior Housing


08/11/2019

“The need for living environments that support healthy aging is more critical now than ever.”


Dailycsr.com – 11 August 2019 – Given the generations shift across industries, “baby boomers” increasingly need to deal with the care of their parents as well as care for themselves. As a result, safety of senior communities has never been “higher” while “demands and expectations” of senior communities are “rapidly shifting the markets”.
 
In a recent gathering, addressing the “Senior Living Innovation Forum”, the chief executive of IWBI, Rick Fedrizzi highlighted some of the “largest concerns” that the “senior housing industry” face today. In fact, Fedrizzi also presented a “critical solution” for the same which ensures “wellness”.
 
Moreover, in an attempt to learn further about the “expanding senior living market” in the U.K., the IWBI’s staff attended “Bisnow’s Multigenerational Living event”. In the coming decade 25% of the U.S. citizens will be above the age of 65, whereby outnumbering the younger generations for the “first time in U.S. history”. This historic shift will also present with it “unique challenges” as seniors will have to be provided with “desirable living space” among other issues like attracting and retaining of different generation’s workforce.
 
In the words of Fedrizzi:
“As the preference of the boomer generation remains to age-in-place, the senior housing industry is increasingly competing with the smart home market that may be appealing to a wellness-conscious consumer. Because more than half of health issues seniors face can be addressed through changes in behavior and tweaks to their living spaces, aging in place will be an attractive option. But community living will still play a critical role, and through wellness-centered senior communities, we are able to not only help improve satisfaction and quality of life, but also reduce the rate of hospital admissions.”
 
It is also to be noted that seniors are likely to spend “an overwhelming majority of their time in the house”, therefore they are going to be “more discerning homebuyers”; therefore the wellness incentive could hold the key to success for creating and upgrading a place. Taking health issues such as “dementia-induced anxieties” into consideration and introducing “circadian lighting design” could provide the answer to some such challenges.
 
The value of “better living environment” is gaining popularity in senior housing, as Eleanor Lindsay, the “LaSalle Investment Management Fund Manager”, noted:
“There is growing investment in the senior living sector as the market matures and a long-term aspirational approach is needed”.
 
As per the “WELL Building Standard”, key matters to keep in mind while designing for the “health and well-being” of the people living there are “Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community”. And Fedrizzi added:
“WELL spaces provide an immeasurable opportunity to enhance our parent’s health and quality of life – but also benefit everyone who occupies the space – the caretakers, administrative staff, visitors and residents alike. When it comes to the people that we care about, health and wellness will always be a number one priority.”
 
 
 
References:
3blmedia.com