Environments for Aging - Fall 2018 - 27

COMMUNITY

Senior loving
Creating spaces in senior living communities that allow residents to meet, date, or just talk
privately can be accomplished easily and affordably By Jami Mohlenkamp
s we come of age, many of us seek to
establish romantic relationships, perhaps to get married eventually and
build a life with someone as a couple. Even
as we grow older and relocate to smaller
apartments and age-restricted communities,
that innate desire for meaningful companionship doesn't necessarily dwindle. In fact, it's
not uncommon for elders to find renewed
love interests and romantic partners later
in life. Yet, traditional senior housing design
elements don't always accommodate a desire
for privacy and intimacy.
Many spaces in senior care communities
are designed to bring everyone together and
promote socialization. However, by designing intentional indoor and outdoor elements
that promote smaller group or private
connections, architects can help create
opportunities for residents to meet, talk, and
connect.

It's easy to offer privacy in outdoor settings. Water fountains, hedge mazes, strategic landscaping, and other
design features can both foster activity and provide spaces for residents to spend meaningful time together
as couples.

Spaces to mingle
Senior living environments must often meet
strict standards of providing accessibility and
safety, and the effect of this can sometimes
be cold and isolating. However, there are
opportunities to design elements within these
spaces to encourage chance meetings,
conversation, and socializing outside of set
programming.
For example, designing corridors with
alcoves and benches along the wall can
offer touchdown points for resting or mobility
assistance. These same spaces also offer
a chance to have a quiet discussion out of
one's residence or to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Additional resting
spaces can be created with a limited view
to the corridor to create a greater sense of
privacy.

OZ ARCHITECTURE

Recreating date night
Designing opportunities for date nights within
residential environments will create meaningful and memorable interactions-especially
when they recreate fond moments from

Designing private dining spaces doesn't necessarily require a lot of room. A patio or outdoor space just off a
main dining room can help enhance opportunities for couples to be alone and talk. Landscaping, gazebos, and
screened-in seating can all create privacy without requiring a lot of additional budget or space.

the past. Architects might visualize design
concepts inspired by a night at the movies,
for example. Theater rooms should provide a
seating structure to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, and audiovisual components to help the hearing or vision impaired.

Taking this a step further, creative theater
room design elements, such as a partial car
chassis complete with dashboard and hood
with chairs or wheelchairs in place of the
seats, might recreate the memory of taking a
date to a drive-in movie.
Fall 2018 * EFAmagazine.com

http://www.EFAmagazine.com

Environments for Aging - Fall 2018

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