Thousands of boomers are turning 65 every day, and many are heading to a senior living center to continue living their best lives.
Therefore, it suffices to say that the senior housing market is quite favorable. Most senior citizens will either live on their own or with someone else. However, about 8% choose to live in assisted living homes, which increases the demand for these services. If you’re in this business, a cookie-cutter traditional senior center won’t cut it.
Today, seniors have a plethora of options to choose from. From nursing homes to senior apartments that offer comfortable retirement, you can easily disappear in the masses if your center doesn’t stand out. A quick way to stand out from the crowd is to make your senior living center more welcoming. We’ve shared 6 tips to help you achieve this. Let’s jump right in.
Invest in General Home Modification Projects
Aging individuals experience various challenges in their day-to-day life. If your goal is to create a safe and convenient home for your residents, it’s your job to anticipate their needs. Find out what struggles they have and how you can improve your residence to make it easier for them. You can’t anticipate everyone’s needs, especially if you have a large senior living center.
Therefore, it’s advisable to seek the expertise of health care providers who cater to senior citizens to understand the issues to prioritize. You’ll also benefit from working with a contractor who specializes in home modification and can coordinate with the health care team. Consider the following general home modification projects for your senior center:
Add Pocket Doors Between Rooms
Pocket doors are a must-have in senior centers because they make mobility between rooms effortless. This design keeps the doors out of the way when opened, and the hinge prevents catching on wheelchairs.
Furthermore, pocket doors increase your floor space in small rooms where you don’t have the space to have swinging doors. If your home has small doors, pocket doors will be the perfect remodel. They help you open up the space without doing too much.
Create at Least One No-Step Entry
Most seniors have a hard time getting around flat surfaces as it is. Don’t make it even harder by having a walkup entryway. Install at least one no-step entry to make entry into the home hassle-free. However, before you make this stairliftdecision, keep in mind that the renovation may present some new challenges. These include:
- You’ll need to install a new drainage system because the doorway will be on a level surface with the surface just outside the door.
- You may need to install a covering to protect you from the elements.
- It’s crucial to ensure there’s enough space for maneuvering when one gets inside.
Taking on such a project may create a dent in your wallet. Therefore, take the time to evaluate how much it would cost you. If it’s too expensive, consider the alternatives. Is it possible to turn a window into a doorway to enter a large room or turn a small room into a foyer? Such modifications help you achieve the same results without breaking the bank.
Install Electric Stairlifts
Most elderly individuals become debilitated by arthritis or muscle atrophy at some point in their advanced years. These individuals may have come to the home able to handle a flight of stairs, but it becomes impossible as they grow older. You need to put this into consideration.
Instead of having regular staircases, consider installing an electric stairlift. An electric stairlift provides the seniors with a sense of security as they move from one place to another. Not to mention, they can do it on their own without assistance, which lessens your staff’s responsibilities.
Install a Home Elevator
An excellent alternative to electric stairlifts is a home elevator. Like electric stairlifts, elevators make it easier to move from one part of the senior living center to another. Most senior citizens say that falling down the stairs and calling out for help without anyone hearing is their biggest fear. You can put their mind at ease with a home elevator.
Again, this handy home modification will make it easier for your residents to move from one place to another without needing any assistance. In addition, you’ll have the freedom to create a story building for the senior center because movement isn’t restricted to a single floor. This means you can increase the number of residents.
Widen the Doors and Hallways
It’s also advisable to have wide doors and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs with ease. If you already have small doors in place, you may have to do a few modifications to fit the wide doors. For instance, you may have to remove the existing door and trim. If there’s a light switch near the door, you may have to relocate that as well.
You may also have to cut out the wallboard and studs to accommodate the wide door unit and trim. When you’re done, you’ll need to repaint the area and upgrade the flooring to match the new doors you installed.
Have all Essential Rooms on the First Floor
You need to limit the senior citizens’ movements as much as possible. Their bodies are frail, and some of them are probably battling different health conditions. Therefore, even if you decide to add electric stairlifts or elevators, it’s a good idea to ensure all the essential rooms are on the first floor for easy access.
In addition to this, prioritize having bigger, open spaces as opposed to smaller numerous rooms. This way, the residents will move with ease, especially if they are in wheelchairs.
Re-do Your Floors to Prevent Slips, Falls, and Trips
Balance can be tricky for senior citizens. Therefore, don’t forget to modify the floors in your renovation project. Floors go a long way in helping your residents move around independently. The ideal floor material should be soft, ensuring bones don’t break or bruise easily.
Rubber floors are an excellent choice. They’re soft, slip-resistant, and fire-resistant. Not to mention, they’re easy to clean, which is perfect for the senior residents who still want to take care of themselves.
Upgrade the Lighting
The last thing you want your senior residents doing is trying to reach up to change a bulb often. This increases the likelihood of falls and injuries. You need a solution that will eliminate this problem. An excellent solution is to install LED bulbs.
LED bulbs are extremely long-lasting, with most of them having a rated life of up to 50,000 hours. This is 8 times longer than a typical CFL.
Ensure You Have Smooth Exterior Walkways
Uneven surfaces are the major cause of outdoor falls among senior citizens. Therefore, ensure your exterior walkways are smooth and well maintained. Remove shrubbery and trees, and ensure grass stays trimmed and off the walkway.
If your walkway is lined with gravel or bark, consider installing a curb to keep it from getting onto the walkway. Lastly, fix all cracks, and remove all moss and lips immediately.
Install Lever-Style Doorknobs
Lever-style doorknobs are easier to grip than round knobs and don’t require any twisting motion. This feature makes them an excellent choice for seniors with arthritis and other conditions that limit motion. The best part about this project is that you can do it yourself. However, it’s best to leave it to the experts if you have a large senior living center because you probably have numerous doors with varying designs.
Don’t Forget the Bathroom
It’s not easy seeing your body unable to do the things it did so easily when you were younger. Seniors have a difficult time going through life every day as it is. Don’t make the simple things like going to the bathroom another challenge. Even if you have people readily available to help your residents find their way in the bathroom, make it convenient enough for them to do it independently. This way, they only ask for help when they need it.
Install Raised Toilet Seats
Needing assistance to go to the bathroom is embarrassing for most seniors. Those recovering from an injury or chronic pain may not be able to sit in a regular toilet due to pain. You can make the experience hassle-free for both categories of seniors by installing raised toilet seats.
A raised toilet seat not only alleviates pain but also makes it easier for the elderly to go to the bathroom without any assistance. Besides, they’re secure, comfortable, and pocket-friendly.
Make Essentials Easily Accessible
Trying to reach for essential items in the bathroom increases the risk of injury among the elderly. Consider having open shelves so that your residents can reach what they need with ease. Glass front doors are an excellent alternative because they make it easier to see what’s inside before opening.
Also, opt for cabinets with easy-to-close doors and drawers with D-shaped pulls instead of knobs. These are easier on the joints because they don’t require a twisting motion to open.
Install Shower Chairs
Most seniors are also afraid of falling in the shower while taking a bath. Because balance is tricky, the slightest loss of balance can cause an accident. You can put their mind at ease by installing shower chairs.
A shower chair not only improves balance, but also decreases the chances of falling on a slippery bathroom floor. These chairs are extremely beneficial for elders who have chronic pain, they’re on wheelchairs, or have a hard time balancing due to their advanced age.
Make the Bathroom Wheelchair Ready
Roll-in shows are the perfect option for seniors on wheelchairs. Also, ensure there are multiple shower heads to make showering a hassle-free process. Don’t install shower curtains with tension rods because grabbing it for support may result in a fall. Instead, install grab bars. Additionally, place rubber mats inside and outside the shower to prevent slipping.
It’s also advisable to lower the bathroom sinks and ensure there’s enough leg clearance. Also, ensure the faucets are clearly labeled either hot or cold and set the temperature to 120 degrees or lower because most seniors lose temperature sensitivity and may end up scalding themselves.
Ditch the Ceramic Tiles
There’s no doubt ceramic tiles give a better aesthetic appeal in the bathroom. However, they’re not the best option in senior living centers. Ceramic tiles are cold, hard, and quite unforgiving in the event of a fall. These types of tiles are also very slippery when wet, which increases the likelihood of slips and falls.
The best bathroom flooring for the elderly is rubber. Some of the benefits of this flooring material include:
- It’s non-slick when wet
- It’s easy to maintain
- It’s very forgiving underfoot and in the event of a fall
However, rubber isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing and can cost a pretty penny compared to other options. But because you’re doing it for a business, the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Install Handheld Showers
Handheld showers are the perfect option for bathrooms in senior living centers. Chances are you have some residents on wheelchairs and others struggling with mobility issues and pain. Make bathing time a breeze by installing handheld showers. These showers make it easy to shower while seated, they don’t require one to reach out, and one can use them in various directions in the shower.
Modernize Your Kitchen
Commercial kitchens face numerous challenges that come with feeding a large group of people. It’s even harder when you’re dealing with people battling various health conditions, dietary restrictions, and the challenges of aging.
You may not think your kitchen layout is a big deal because the seniors are not expected to make their own meals, but it is. You can do numerous things to modify your kitchen area that will go a long way in keeping your senior residents happy, healthy, and well-fed. These include:
Stick to Simple Layouts and Modern Décor
Sleek and modern kitchen designs have been on trend everywhere, from commercial restaurants to senior living centers. Modern kitchen designs feature clean lines, a lack of clutter, a bright and airy atmosphere, and a few depictions of nature (you can add live or artificial plants or artwork depicting nature).
This trend makes sense for senior living centers. Too many decorations can cause confusion and increase the risk of tripping. On the other hand, simple décor that depicts nature offers a calm and soothing feeling.
Design for Communal Dining
Traditional senior living facilities didn’t put much thought into the dining experience. Most of these facilities conjured up images of buffet lines and trays packed with tasteless and texture-less food. Modern senior centers are making a change, and you can’t afford to be left behind.
Today, most senior living centers provide an incredible dining experience that all guests enjoy. Most importantly, they remove the hassle of having the guests fend for themselves by making queues to get their food.
Most senior living centers now provide menus and waited staff and have a communal dining space where the residents get to interact as they enjoy their meals. Most importantly, there are a variety of tasty meals to choose from.
Consider Family-Style Kitchen Designs
Most senior citizens crave their independence, and you shouldn’t rob them of this. Even if your center has a staff to take care of the cooking, it’s advisable to make it possible for the residents to participate if they wish to. Family-style kitchen designs make this possible.
The design features smaller dining areas and kitchens that resemble what you’d get in most homes. With this type of design, the residents feel closer to home. Don’t forget to install easy to reach cabinets and integrated knee spaces for the residents on wheelchairs.
Incorporate More Natural Light Sources
Natural light not only looks so much better than artificial light, but it’s known to have psychological and physical benefits. Since senior residents spend most of their day in the dining area, most senior centers are incorporating more natural light sources into this space.
You can go for skylights or large windows to increase the amount of light in the space. Exposure to the sun will help:
- Regulate sleep
- Bolster Vitamin D levels
- Reduce eyestrain in people with aging eyesight
Invest in Adjustable, Adaptable Furniture
It’s also important to choose furniture that boosts your residents’ feelings of independence. For residents with mobility aids, dining tables with adjustable height, and pedestal bases work wonders and make it easier for them to eat in the dining room.
Also, square tables are better than circular ones because they can easily be pushed together to create larger sitting arrangements or adjust the flow of your space. It’s also crucial to invest in durable, stain-resistant upholstery because you plan to use the furniture for years to come. Patterns are a good way to go because they hide stains, but don’t go overboard because over-the-top patterns can be chaotic for seniors with visual or cognitive impairment. Stick to black and small patterns.
Make the Kitchen as Senior-Friendly as Possible
Apart from modernizing your kitchen, it’s also crucial to ensure that everything is senior-friendly. The last thing you need is to increase the likelihood of accidents and slips by allowing your residents to help out in the kitchen or prepare their meals when they wish to do so. Luckily, there are ways to ensure your kitchen is safe for seniors. Below are handy tricks to consider.
Install a Pull Out Pantry
A pull Out pantry is a must-have if you’re going to have seniors helping out in the kitchen. This pantry allows the residents to get what they need from the pantry without shuffling things around.
Apart from providing incredible convenience, drawers make it easier to reach things like cereal boxes and canned food with ease, thereby limiting strain on the back and knees. You can even use these pullout drawers to store heavy appliances like toasters and blenders for easy reach.
Opt for Shallow Sinks
Residents who want to prepare their own meals will probably not want too much assistance in the kitchen. Therefore, you shouldn’t forget to install senior-friendly sinks. The best option is shallow sinks that are about six to eight inches deep.
These sinks are easy for seniors to work with whether they need to clean after themselves or clean their vegetables. Just make sure the sink is placed at a favorable height for seniors in wheelchairs to access easily.
Place the Microwave below Counter Height
Whether you have freestanding or built-in microwaves, it’s best to have them below counter height. This way, the seniors won’t have to reach or extend their back too far to use it. At counter height, even residents on wheelchairs will have an easy time using the appliance.
However, if you don’t want to lose too much counter space, you have the option of tucking the microwave under the counter. This is an excellent alternative for residents who have mobility issues because it’s easier to place a hot plate down than it is to lift your shoulders to place it on an upper surface. Besides, having the microwave in this position prevents burns.
Stick to Round Edges
You need to steer clear of 90-degree angles on open shelves and countertops. These types of angles increase the risk of accidents because the senior residents can easily hit their elbow or hip on the sharp corners. Stick to round edges instead. These lessen the likelihood of bruises and bumps.
Opt For Drawers, Not Doors
Drawers offer a lot of conveniences. For starters, they display all your flatware and utensils all at once, which eliminates the need to rummage through things to get what you’re looking for. What’s more, you don’t have to get on your knees to peer into the cabinet to see what’s at the back.
Furthermore, you can have large drawers that fit bigger items like pans and pots for easy access. This way, all the residents have to do is pull and access what they need with ease. It’s a perfect solution for seniors on wheelchairs as well since most drawers are below countertop level.
Keep the Sink Close to the Stove
It’s harder for seniors to carry big pots of water to and from the cooktop because their arms and backs are weaker. Any attempt to do this increases the risk of spillage, and spills are a slipping hazard. You can eliminate the hassle by moving your stove closer to the sink.
When you opt for this layout, don’t forget to leave enough working space in the area. Otherwise, you will not have solved the problem because the residents will have easier access to the sink but won’t have anywhere to place their pots and other things they need to prepare their meals.
Remove Tripping Hazards
Area rugs and carpets improve the aesthetic appeal of any room. However, they’re not the best for senior living centers because they are tripping hazards, as is everything that makes the floors uneven, such as single steps and cords.
Remove loose rugs or secure them in place. Wall-to-wall carpets are also an excellent alternative because they don’t have any loose corners that can cause tripping. In addition to this, ensure you run chords along the walls or even the ceiling so that they’re not on the way. And if you have small steps that make the floor uneven, consider installing mini ramps or redoing your floors to create a smooth, even surface that’s senior-friendly.
Install Handrails
Most seniors find it hard to maintain their balance, especially when they’ve been moving for a while. Therefore, it’s advisable to install handrails in all the areas that they may lose their balance, such as staircases, along decks, and hallways. With the handrails in place, the residents will feel more confident to move around the home without any assistance.
You should also install handrails in stairlifts and elevators. This way, the residents have something to hold on to while on the lift or elevator for balance. Don’t forget to add them in bathrooms and in their private rooms as well.
Wrapping Up
Most families look for the perfect senior living centers for their elderly family members. Long gone are the days when basic homes that offered accommodation and meals were enough. Today, most seniors want to enjoy a peaceful, welcoming, and relaxing atmosphere in their retirement years. Therefore, if you want your home to stand out from the pack, you need to go the extra mile to make it inviting.
Some of the areas to focus on include the bathroom, kitchen, and living space. Don’t forget to modify the floors in every room. Slip-free floors are the best for seniors because they easily lose balance. Consult a professional contractor who has experience remodeling senior living centers for the best results.
However, don’t be afraid to add a personal touch to the finishing and interior décor. Remember, first impressions are what will get the residents inside the senior living center. So, don’t leave any stone unturned!
Superior Commercial Solutions Can Help
Apart from safety, part of managing a senior living center includes making sure that your facility also looks chic and inviting. At Superior Commercial Solutions, we excel at supplying and installing cabinets and quartz countertops for assisted living, multi-family, student housing, and hospitality projects. Although we’re based in Utah, we proudly work on high-volume projects throughout the U.S. Discover the Superior Commercial Solutions difference by getting in touch with us.