QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
A Design Roadmap for a Changing World By Sara Wildberger
connections, and care for chronic conditions are a few at the top of the list, according to Victor Regnier, FAIA. As a joint professor at the University of
W
Southern California School of Architecture and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontol- ogy—the only appointment of its kind in the United States—and the only fellow of both the American Institute of Architects and the Gerontological Society of America, his life’s work has been at the intersection of design and aging. And demographic trends now make that
work of critical importance. “We are approaching a period of world
history where increasing longevity and de- creased fertility will change everything,” he said, likening the disruptive eff ect to that of climate change.
hat are the needs that will shape senior living design into the future? Choice, community
Yet, as many are now aware, the old
health care-based models for senior res- idences aren’t serving us well, neither in terms of quality of life nor in costs. “The answer is not just living in assisted
living or a nursing home but living in a sup- portive community with services and friends and colleagues,” he said. This convergence of choice and costs is leading many to choose aging in place— which presents both problems and oppor- tunities for senior living leaders. Yet staying home can lead to isolation— and people need community. Our health systems are designed around the provision of acute care, while older people need support for chronic conditions, Regnier pointed out. As reaching the 100-year mark becomes more common, we need to provide a better, more independent quality of life for the frail and the “oldest old.” Many in the senior living fi eld have seen it coming, and are responding with gradual shifts in design features, new lines of busi- ness, or innovative residences, approaches, and technology.
Change Agent Profi le
Victor Regnier, FAIA University of Southern California Professior of Architecture and Gerontology
Regnier’s latest book, “Housing Design for
an Increasingly Older Population: Redefi ning Assisted Living for the Mentally and Physi- cally Frail,” published in fall 2018, lays out how we got here and the demographic pic- ture ahead. It then presents architecture and design solutions drawn from forward-looking and successful communities worldwide. The book overfl ows with case studies, examples, and photographs, arranged to address spe- cifi c challenges, and wraps up with 12 major takeaways for senior living. On the following page, you can see a sampling of what’s in- cluded in the book:
“We are approaching a period of world history where increasing longevity and decreased fertility will change everything,” said Regnier.
44 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
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