Engaged by Design: Outdoor and Community Amenities Help Seniors Housing Residents Thrive
FK Architecture Senior Planner and Landscape Architect Shawn Reed published an article about the importance and trend of implementing amenities in retirement communities that got featured in two publications. By strategically placing outdoor gathering areas or community gardens near dining spaces or other visible areas, seniors are more likely to engage in activities and interact with fellow residents—leading to beneficial health effects such as improved sleep and psychological well-being.
“Landscape architects are uniquely suited to provide ways for seniors to experience the outdoors in a safe, accessible way, with a targeted, evidence-based design that blends human connection to nature while meeting seniors where they prefer to be and interact with others,” Reed notes. “Focusing on design elements that encourage their use and interaction as seniors age is paramount so that a senior living facility is not stratified along age lines and instead creates a community that is more adaptive and has more positive places for interaction.”
The application of behavioral design principles of the “Nudge Theory” encourages outdoor engagement by subtly influencing habits through architectural choices. Such thoughtful design can also promote “habit stacking,” where physical activities become part of a senior’s daily routine, further reinforcing healthy behaviors.
“Interactive, engaging, and communal amenities enhance individual well-being while encouraging interactions across the generations,” Reed writes. “This new paradigm for senior living ensures these facilities are, in fact, communities with various choices for amenities with locations that are accessible and intuitive while providing fulfilling opportunities to explore and discover.”
Read the story in full, click here for the Seniors Housing Business article and click here for the REBusiness Online article.