Creating the Best Future for Senior Housing Units

As the world ages, the people that live in it also grow older. In fact, it is expected that the elderly will be twice as many as the younger generation by 2035, thanks to the baby boomers entering late adulthood. This also means that senior housing units are taking center stage because of the demand for good quality residential communities that meet all the needs of the older population.

But while the current senior housing situation is already good, there are still ways to improve upon it in the future to provide a more ideal space for the elderly. Here are three steps that experts say will help create a better living space for seniors:

Integration of Housing and Health Services

One of the most important senior housing issues is the fact that healthcare facilities are usually far from housing communities. But since the elderly will need access to health services all the time, the system can be improved by integrating housing and health services.

This is actually a cost-effective option since seniors can easily get the health services that they need right within their housing community. So, there’s no need for them to be transported to the hospital because everything is already accessible to them.

Importance of Improving Housing Accessibility

Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies released a projection that 31.2 million senior households will have at least one member with a disability affecting mobility by 2035. Therefore, it’s very important to improve the accessibility of all senior housing units whether during the first build or through a renovation.

All these developments should comply with the requirements in design and construction as stipulated by the Fair Housing Act and they also need to consider an elderly person’s need for comfort, accessibility, and safety.

Proper Selection of Services and Amenities

One of the biggest goals of any senior housing development is to give the elderly a safe and conducive place to live in while still giving them their independence.

Seniors have different needs than the average household, so designers need to create a space that has access to a wide range of services and amenities. This should include personal care, health management, wellness, recreation, transportation, and socialization. And since every senior housing community is different, it pays to really design an area that will fit the exact needs of the residents but can be adjusted if needed. Health service facilities should also be included in designing a senior housing community.

As we welcome a historical milestone for the American population in 2035 when older people will outnumber the younger generation, it goes without saying that having the right senior housing facility should be a priority for both the government and private institutions.

The future is just on the horizon anyway, so it’s very important to take the necessary steps now to provide a better and brighter future for the elderly population. We owe it to them after all, because they helped shape the world that we live in now.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco