It wasn’t that long ago when every home had a landline telephone, and cell phones were considered a luxury. Today, much of the technology that worked 20 or even 10 years ago is outdated. The same is true for senior living. Many of the amenities that used to attract residents are woefully inadequate today – a single spacious dining hall, a game room for Bingo, and a swimming pool aren’t enough to meet their needs, interests, and expectations. However, many communities have ‘good bones’ and can be repositioned or renovated for seniors today and for years to come.

As senior living communities evolve, master planning must focus on fostering engagement, collaboration, and long-term well-being. Whether individuals reside in an active adult community, a senior living development, or independently within a broader neighborhood, providing access to integrated support systems is key to successful aging. One model gaining traction is the Village-to-Village Network, grassroots, community-based approach that enables older adults to age in place with confidence and support.

According to population data, about 28% of people aged 65 and older live by themselves; more than 6 million men and 10 million women. Many of these individuals are residents or potential residents of senior living communities; they can and do live independently. These individuals have issues that require support, with nearly 4 in 10 having vision or hearing loss, cognitive issues, or other problems or disabilities. An AARP survey shows that an astonishing 95% haven’t made a reservation at a senior living community, and 82% haven’t looked into finding an easier or less expensive place to live or made any modifications to their homes.

While we cannot stop or turn back the clock, Pi Architects designs active adult communities that enable people to age in spaces that meet their needs and interests, providing residents with services and amenities that focus on well-being and longevity, empowering residents to live more vibrant lives. It is about creating communities, places where people feel at home and connected to those around them.

In active adult communities, the design must reflect the mindset of a generation that sees aging differently. These residents often view themselves as youthful, energetic, and far from retirement age in the traditional sense. As a result, the communities that appeal to them must be vibrant and full of life.

Designing a vibrant and in-demand senior living community is easy when there are no limits. In the real world, financial, operational, and scheduling constraints are a given. That’s where master planning becomes essential. It helps prioritize what’s possible now while laying the groundwork for future growth, innovation, and community needs. It enables you to determine what you can do now and helps create a timeline to realize additional plans, desires, and visions of the community.

It’s an eternal conundrum. The budget is limited, but the sky’s the limit when it comes to hopes, dreams, and expectations. This can be a challenge in senior living when residents and prospective members dream big, but their dreams cost money, and the coffers aren’t overflowing. However, a combination of engagement, listening, transparency, and thoughtful compromise can enable facilities to make small innovations, bigger renovations done over time or in phases, and viable options to limit costs while maintaining quality and satisfaction. All this calls for a master plan and a team with design, marketing, customer service, leadership, communication, and negotiation skills. This can be especially useful in older communities where no significant changes or updates have been made in several years.

July 4th presents a great opportunity to showcase the amenities and features of your community while providing some fun and unique events and activities for your residents and staff. Involve residents in planning. Let talented residents perform and bring in friends and family members who can play music, donate food or other items, etc. Consider inviting leaders, partners, and friends in the community

Easter marks the joyful arrival of spring, so this is a perfect time to enjoy all the season has to offer. Remind your residents of outdoor amenities with a community flower show, a springtime community picnic, or a pop-up shop with a local garden center. Easter is a time for celebrating and reflection, senior living communities can offer something for all their residents, as well as families and friends.

Increasingly, senior living communities will encounter people who don’t want a sedentary lifestyle. Preparing for the future of senior living means revisiting much of what we know about what older adults want, need, and can afford. It is important to figure out how to respond to the needs around well-being and longevity. Michele Holleran, CEO, of DeArment Consulting, LLC states, “I define longevity not only as the span of someone’s life but the quality of that lifespan.”

Senior living industry leaders agree that designing communities that enable and promote intergenerational connections is a priority for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. Seniors are embracing new approaches that create engagement and integrated community living, breaking down ageism while supporting socialization, health, and wellness.

People are aging in better health. For the first time in humanity, there are five generations living together, it's something that has never happened before. Globally, life expectancy increases every 10 years, and Nicola Palmarini, director of the National Centre for Ageing in the UK, said during a recent webinar that we are moving from an aging society to a longevity one.  He explained, “There isn’t just one way to live healthier longer lives. Each one of us has their own.

When planning a repositioning or renovation project for your community, consider a potential missing demographic in your focus: individuals born between 1954 and 1965. These individuals do not fully align with the Boomer or Gen X generations. While often grouped with Boomers or Xers, they typically exhibit greater independence, a more active lifestyle, and a strong commitment to pursuing their dreams and making an impact.

Thanks to sophisticated and innovative technology, it is easier than ever to collect data about senior living. The key is to use this information effectively to meet the needs of residents, appeal to prospects, plan renovations, and new builds, and watch for trends and emerging challenges. In essence, data and analytics help assess and manage the present and predict the future.

A recent webinar, The New Senior Consumer: Data and Analytics, offered some powerful insights into how data is revolutionizing senior living.

Pi has submitted Westminster in Austin, TX, for a 2024 Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Award. “This community stands as a testament to innovative senior living,” said Greg Hunteman, AIA, Pi president. He added, “Westminster was a trailblazer, being the first in Texas to combine the privacy of apartment homes with the services of a 24/7 on-site health center, and to offer the Life Care option, ensuring a predictable way to receive and pay for care services.” Over the decades, Westminster has undergone multiple expansions and reinvestments, reinforcing its status as Austin’s premier Life Plan community.

As we gather around tables with family, friends, and loved ones this Thanksgiving, Pi Architects’ team wants to reflect on this past year's progress, growth, and purpose. This holiday is a special time to pause, appreciate what we have, and look forward with gratitude and excitement for what’s yet to come. We have so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. We have had the opportunity to partner with visionaries and organizations to design communities and spaces that promote comfort, purpose, and well-being. We are also incredibly fortunate to have a team of passionate, talented, and creative professionals – specialists across all major design disciplines, architecture, interior design, repositioning, development, master planning, and longevity.

A recent report from the McKinsey Health Institute confirms what we’ve been saying about aging and the need to create and reposition senior communities to appeal to this growing population. Findings from a survey of more than 21,000 older adults (those aged 55 and older) showed that these individuals prioritize having a purpose, managing stress, enjoying meaningful connections with others, and maintaining independence.

The popularity of pickleball is estimated to have grown nearly 40% between 2019 and 2021. More than 36.5 million people played the sport between August 2021 and 2022.

It’s clear that pickleball is here to stay and I have to admit I’ve joined the revolution. It’s a great way to get exercise and have fun!

Predicting the future takes more than some educated guesses and creative thinking. Looking into the future of senior living means taking a fresh and insightful look at a new generation of older adults -- individuals with their own experiences, challenges, concerns, goals, interests, and demands.

Pi sat down with Bryon Cohron, vice president, of market analysis and business development at ProMatura, to talk about how senior living design is evolving to meet the needs of seniors tomorrow and 10 and 20 years down the road.

Like so many aspects of senior living, pools have evolved. No longer are these just for lounging or swimming. Increasingly, the design and features of a pool and the surroundings are carefully thought out and planned or can result in an expensive unused, and high-maintenance amenity that does little to attract prospects. Before making an investment in a pool, communities need to determine how residents want to use the amenity and what features or accessories will be needed.

Here’s the dilemma. We’ve seen firsthand how physically and mentally damaging social isolation can be on seniors, but—at least for the foreseeable future—we can’t go back to in-person visits, group activities, concerts, and crowded dining halls.