Interior Design for Assisted Living Communities

As the Baby Boomer generation retires over the next two decades, there will be a great need for a new place for them to call home that offers the opportunity for medical assistance as needed. As such, assisted living facilities are on the rise within the healthcare industry, providing a comfortable and familiar environment for the elderly who are no longer able to live entirely on their own. These facilities incorporate private apartments in addition to amenities and various gathering areas for social interaction amongst residents. Special considerations must be made for the aging population, due to common conditions such as poor vision, wheelchair confinement, and general mobility and strength impairment. A study of gerontology and evidence-based research on successful assisted living facility designs provides an essential basis for determining the needs of the elderly users of a space. Personal interviews with existing facility residents offer an internal perspective on the desires of the population for which these facilities are designed. By considering both the needs and desires of the users, a well-designed assisted living facility can be both accessible and beautiful, truly becoming a new home for its residents.