International design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman announced the publication of its latest white paper, “Centers for Healthy Living: Providing Whole-Person Wellness to Seniors,” co-authored by Associate and Senior Design Researcher Emily Chmielewski EDAC, and Associate Claire Dickey AIA, who are based in the firm’s Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., offices, respectively. The report is the culmination of a comprehensive design research study, conducted by the firm’s in-house research group, which examines what existing centers for healthy living (CHLs) are doing today and how they may evolve to better serve the complex needs of seniors.
Centers for healthy living, a new building typology that supports seniors through all eight dimensions of wellness, are currently being developed all over the U.S. in various forms and serving a diversity of needs, either within Life Plan Community campuses or as stand-alone community centers. Rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all model, today’s CHLs vary widely in terms of services offered, which in turn reflects the fact that there are many definitions of “wellness.” According to one survey participant, the COO of a prominent residential and care provider in a suburb of Washington, D.C., “With so many definitions of wellness, a successful CHL needs to be able to adjust and adapt to be all inclusive and participatory.”
With the number of older adults in the U.S. in need of long-term services and support projected to grow from 15 million to 27 million by the year 2050, there is a distinct need to explore where and how senior services are delivered.
“CHLs help bridge the gap between the senior living and healthcare sectors, yet they go beyond the typical provision of clinic and exercise spaces to address all eight dimensions of whole-person wellness,” write the authors.
While this holistic approach is optimal, research study findings suggest that some providers tend to focus more on residents’ physical and social wellness, and pay less attention to accommodating the other six. This white paper explores the causes behind this (e.g. certain dimensions of wellness are easier to support and quantify), among other things, and offers informed, research-based recommendations for how CHLs of the future and corresponding models of care can better meet the wellness needs of seniors.
This white paper was produced and edited under the guidance and design expertise of Perkins Eastman’s Senior Living leadership team. The release of “Centers for Healthy Living” coincides with this year’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo (October 30 – November 2), being held in Indianapolis, IN. The entire paper is available for free download at www.perkinseastman.com/white_papers.
Related Stories
MFPRO+ Special Reports | Oct 27, 2023
Download the 2023 Multifamily Annual Report
Welcome to Building Design+Construction and Multifamily Pro+’s first Multifamily Annual Report. This 76-page special report is our first-ever “state of the state” update on the $110 billion multifamily housing construction sector.
Market Data | Oct 23, 2023
New data finds that the majority of renters are cost-burdened
The most recent data derived from the 2022 Census American Community Survey reveals that the proportion of American renters facing housing cost burdens has reached its highest point since 2012, undoing the progress made in the ten years leading up to the pandemic.
Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023
Top 115 Multifamily Construction Firms for 2023
Clark Group, Suffolk Construction, Summit Contracting Group, Whiting-Turner Contracting, and McShane Companies top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities.
Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023
Top 75 Multifamily Engineering Firms for 2023
Kimley-Horn, WSP, Tetra Tech, Olsson, and Langan head the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities.
Giants 400 | Oct 23, 2023
Top 190 Multifamily Architecture Firms for 2023
Humphreys and Partners, Gensler, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Niles Bolton Associates, and AO top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking factors revenue for all multifamily buildings work, including apartments, condominiums, student housing facilities, and senior living facilities.
Senior Living Design | Oct 19, 2023
Senior living construction poised for steady recovery
Senior housing demand, as measured by the change in occupied units, continued to outpace new supply in the third quarter, according to NIC MAP Vision. It was the ninth consecutive quarter of growth with a net absorption gain. On the supply side, construction starts continued to be limited compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Warehouses | Oct 19, 2023
JLL report outlines 'tremendous potential' for multi-story warehouses
A new category of buildings, multi-story warehouses, is beginning to take hold in the U.S. and their potential is strong. A handful of such facilities, also called “urban logistics buildings” have been built over the past five years, notes a new report by JLL.
Contractors | Oct 19, 2023
Crane Index indicates slowing private-sector construction
Private-sector construction in major North American cities is slowing, according to the latest RLB Crane Index. The number of tower cranes in use declined 10% since the first quarter of 2023. The index, compiled by consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), found that only two of 14 cities—Boston and Toronto—saw increased crane counts.
Office Buildings | Oct 19, 2023
Proportion of workforce based at home drops to lowest level since pandemic began
The proportion of the U.S. workforce working remotely has dropped considerably since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, but office vacancy rates continue to rise. Fewer than 26% of households have someone who worked remotely at least one day a week, down sharply from 39% in early 2021, according to the latest Census Bureau Household Pulse Surveys.
Contractors | Oct 19, 2023
Poor productivity cost U.S contractors as much as $40 billion last year
U.S. contractors lost between $30 billion and $40 billion in 2022 due to poor labor productivity, according to a new report from FMI Corp. The survey focused on self-performing contractors, those typically engaged as a trade partner to a general contractor.
