Environments for Aging - Spring 2017 - 49

Q&A

with David W. Minnigan, AIA
Principal, ESa (Earl Swensson Associates)
What's one major design
or care delivery trend
that's shaping your work
today? And how so?
We are seeing a surge in
freestanding memory care
facilities. Whereas, in the
not-so-distant past, our
clients preferred to add a
memory-care wing onto an
assisted living residence,
our clients are now taking a
more customized approach
with security being a driver
for change. Resident
rooms are no longer
confined to double-loaded
corridors. Through our
research and experience,
we are finding that open,
common spaces in a
centralized core work
well. This configuration
serves several purposes
by allowing flexibility,
providing visibility for staff
in the open plan, and also
encouraging residents to
become engaged with
others in various activities.

What defined senior
living 10 years ago, and
what defines it now?
Ten years ago, traditional
CCRCs were the direction
of choice, providing
independent living, assisted
living and skilled nursing.
Today, less independent
living residences are
being developed. Smaller
campuses providing
specialty care are instead
becoming the norm. Active
adult communities are
still around and not going
away any time soon, but
this category is becoming
less a part of senior living.
Transitional and specialty
components associated
with rehab and dementia are
coming online.
How does your firm
answer industry goals
for achieving a sense of
community and creating
homelike environments
for seniors?

We start by looking at
Planetree principles and
concepts for design to make
the senior residents more
comfortable in a homelike
setting. A connection
with nature, natural and
enhanced lighting, and also
encouraging interaction
through design are all
Planetree components.
Artwork, another Planetree
component, can play a dual
role by creating "landmarks"
for orientation and also

creating connections with
the residents. While we try
to keep interiors traditional
and familiar for seniors, by
no means does that mean
stale.
Tell us something
surprising about your
company that people
may not know.
First, we have an average
employee tenure of over
16 years. With a company
our size, that is quite
extraordinary. And the fact
that we work nationwide
through just one office is
unheard of in our industry.
Our location, with Nashville
being a transportation hub,
allows us to easily travel all
over the country. Having
one office is purposeful
in order to maintain our
strong company culture,
while still providing the
personal service and
attention our clients
deserve. It just works.
www.esarch.com

An open, family-style country kitchen in Clare Bridge Memory Care, Brookdale Roswell is located in the center of the facility to promote
kitchen life skills and resident interaction. Photo: © Attic Fire Photography

http://www.esarch.com http://www.esarch.com

Environments for Aging - Spring 2017

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