SENIOR HOUSING
landscape designs to help seniors live their best life….
It all starts with an idea. What does your best life look like at a senior living facility? Everybody has a different vision for this. However, while designing a senior living community, it is vital to consider how the clientele will need memory aids or cues in order to feel comfortable as they move through the spaces. There are potential physical limitations and it is imperative that there are flat pathways that meet ADA requirements.
Finally, while we want to ensure that all senses are intrigued, it is important to not overdo it and to ensure there are no poisonous plant material within the courtyards. When all of these factors are taken into consideration, all people within the community are able to live their best lives.
How Can I Help?
I can help design a facility where age and physical limitations are minimized and seniors can live their best lives.
When Should You Call Me?
The earlier in the process that you call me, the more I can help co-create a vision for an aesthetically pleasing and accessible space. By starting early in the process, we can choose which natural features to maintain or enhance during the building process.
Marlborough
Project Credit: Bohler
Image Credit: Bohler
The first step before a project is viable is to do a test to confirm that the footprint of the building and all of the program elements fit the site. This is also the time to do a cursory review of the zoning regulations and perform desktop diligence to confirm if there are other constraints that will need to be resolved in the beginning.
Mashpee
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: Stantec
Once the plan is in CAD (Computer-Aided Design Software), I will develop a colored rendering for you and I to use as we introduce the project to local officials.
CT Senior Living
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: EPOCH Senior Living
The interior courtyards are the main outdoor amenity space for the residents. We will want a variety of intimate spaces with plenty of seating opportunities along the pathway.
CT Senior Living
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: EPOCH Senior Living
At the exit of each area will be an identifying feature (arbor, fence, stone wall etc.) to direct the residents back.
Mashpee
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: EPOCH Senior Living
The main entrance is our opportunity to make a first impression on the visitors or new residents. We want this to feel like their front door of their new home. I have found that it is important to have a nice flat, paved entrance with various seating options. The seating options are surrounded with a colorful palette of landscape plantings.
CT Senior Living
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: EPOCH Senior Living
In all of my designs, I always look for opportunities to connect the interior with the exterior. One great example is a patio with a variety of resident seating, just outside of the door that connects the two spaces.
CT Senior Living
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: EPOCH Senior Living
One popular amenity for senior living communities is a shared garden space. The garden space helps provide the feeling of home, as many residents tended their own gardens prior to moving to a senior community.
Newbridge on the Charles
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: Maglin Furniture
You and I will come up with a variety of seating options. When we have long benches, it is helpful to have intermediate arm rests for the residents to use when sitting and also helps them stand up from the bench much easier.
Newbridge on the Charles
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: Hebrew Senior Life
Many times on projects I have worked on, I have come across donors who want to donate money to the project. Sculptures are an appealing addition to the landscape. You and I will work with the donor and the artist to site the sculpture. I will then design the plinth that the sculpture will go on to be secured safely.
Newbridge on the Charles
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: Hebrew Senior Life
In all courtyard designs, it is important that there be a variety of sizes in the spaces and materials (hardscape vs lawn). I also like to have a variety of color, smells, and to make sure there are seasonal elements for each season.
Newbridge on the Charles
Project Credit: Stantec
Image Credit: Hebrew Senior Living
Adding in planted berms is a technique to give residents privacy in between the spaces and along any walking pathways.