Environments for Aging - Spring 2017 - 120

Q+A

Taking the pulse

Perkins Eastman's 2017 survey of senior living providers finds an industry in transition, as demand for
new partnerships and business models grows. Here, J. David Hoglund, chief operating officer, and
Emily Chmielewski, associate and senior design researcher, discuss what's ahead By Anne DiNardo

Environments for Aging:
Perkins Eastman's survey
on the state of senior living
is titled "An Industry in
Transition." What's the
biggest change you see
happening in 2017?
J. David Hoglund: The
most significant [is] senior
care providers aligning
their operations with
healthcare systems and
other organizations, such as
community colleges, which
is creating new partnerships
and business models in the
marketplace. Offering an array of
dining options, comprehensive
fitness programs, great design,
and the like are all important
pieces to the puzzle, but to
remain truly competitive, building
strategic alliances within the
community is more important
than ever.

J. David Hoglund

every day, it's coming to a
head. Continuity of lifestyle
is definitely one of the driving
factors, particularly in urban
markets. As important as
strategic partnerships have
become, it's a natural fit in cities
where healthcare services,
institutions of higher education,
public transit, and all variety of
amenities are already in place.
And since the world's population
is increasingly urban-based,
creating more urban senior
living models is something of a
foregone conclusion.

What are the obstacles to
meeting the demand for
these housing options?
Hoglund: The obstacles are
numerous, but the biggest
challenge is designing for
Emily Chmielewski
choice. The market is continually
evolving, and there's now more
interest in providing residents with a variety
This is your third senior living provider
of amenities that fits all kinds of lifestyles,
survey since 2015. What other shifts
social calendars, and healthcare needs.
have you seen over the years?
Designing environments that are sustainable
Emily Chmielewski: There was an uptick in
and meet those needs is no easy task, and
interest for urban, intergenerational, cohousing,
that's where the Center for Healthy Living
and university-based options (all of which
(CHL) comes in. CHLs, which are designed
speak to the growth in partnerships and
as inclusive community centers with holistic
affiliations). If our crystal ball is right, residences
wellness and various other programs, address
in the future will be largely community-based
many of the biggest issues facing the industry
or part of a larger network of services that
today, including longer life expectancies, shifting
supports a range of lifestyle options. Aging-indemographics, and an evolved definition of
place and aging-in-community, coupled with
"health" that considers not just living longer, but
an "apartment-for-life model," appear to be on
living long and well. Because they're versatile
the upswing, as well.
by design, they're also great resources for
communities that wish to incorporate wholeWhat's driving interest in urban,
person wellness into their programming.
intergenerational, cohousing, and
university-based options?
How will increasing market competition
Chmielewski: There's been growing interest
change the industry and affect design
for some time, but with baby boomers
standards in senior living?
reaching retirement age at staggering rates
Hoglund: We think there's room for growth in
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EFAmagazine.com * Spring 2017

all sectors-from urban and communitybased independent living models to
at-home services, assisted living, and
skilled care. But for-profits are filling in
niche markets with all manner of new and
progressive designs, which tend to be
more context-driven, such as specialized
design that pays homage to historical area
architecture or incorporates elements of
biophilic design. While it's true that forprofits present a unique challenge to notfor-profit care organizations (i.e., bigger
marketing budgets, deeper pockets to
fund more diverse programming and
services), we believe that newfound levels
of competition will raise the bar of design
standards for all. For example, not-forprofits typically have older campuses and
facilities they can innovate and reposition,
allowing them the flexibility to incorporate
new ideas and trends, like farm-to-table
culinary options and Montessori-inspired
memory care programming.
How would you like to see the senior
living conversation change five years
from now?
Hoglund: We'd like it very much if we're
no longer calling it "senior living," but
rather something that's more inclusive
(maybe "design for all"?) and reflects
environments where everyone, regardless
of abilities, is well supported by highly
functional and beautiful settings. In
recent decades, we've moved away from
the labels "retirement home" and "nursing
home." It's about time we did the same
with senior living, because what the
industry does is so much more. EFA
Anne DiNardo is executive editor of Environments
for Aging. She can be reached at anne.dinardo@
emeraldexpo.com.

For more information on the survey, visit
http://perkinseastman.com/white_papers.

http://www.perkinseastman.com/white_papers http://www.EFAmagazine.com

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