David Sisson Architecture
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • Case Studies
    • East Side Double Decker Remodel
    • Daycare Expansion Project
    • Commerical Loft Conversion
    • Luxury Single Family Hingham
    • Elementary School Renovation
    • Urban Single Family Providence
    • Investment Property Remodel
    • Assisted Living Addition
    • Providence Place Mall Interior
    • Jewelry Factory Loft Conversion
    • 12-Unit Apartment Building
  • Reviews
  • Book a Consultation
  • Our Team
  • Blog

Assisted Living Design in the Age of COVID-19

12/31/2020

8 Comments

 
​As a firm committed to designing for seniors in care home settings and those aging in place, we’ve learned a lot over the past year. Assisted living facilities have been especially hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic: tragically, over 40% of COVID deaths (over 100,000 people) in the US have been associated with long term care. People living in these communities have higher levels of impairment and chronic illness, which can increase their risk of infection. And residents live in close proximity to each other and are in close contact with caregivers, further increasing the probability of that infections will spread.
 
What has the pandemic taught us about assisted living design, and how will it change our approach post-COVID? We have put together a compendium of solutions used during the pandemic:
Picture
​Infection-safe pods—these self-contained, sanitized spaces enable crucial contact with visiting family without risk of infection. Glass or malleable plastic walls allow residents to see or even touch visitors. Future assisted living communities will need to be designed with spaces that can be converted for this use. 
Picture
​Isolation and quarantine areas—these can be residents’ normal rooms but additional spaces should also be available. Moving forward, we will need to increase the standard square footage dedicated to this. Single rather than shared rooms are desirable, and ventilation planning will include operable windows, exhaust fans, filters, and more powerful HVAC systems.
Picture
​Integration of digital communication technologies like Zoom and Facetime. Smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Echo helped residents feel connected during social isolation. The Elli-Q robot was designed specifically to promote social connectedness for older adults. Architects will need to pay more attention to building in hardware (large screens, microphones, speakers) for these technologies.
Picture
​Respite spaces for staff who are working long hours. Supports staff physical wellbeing and mental health. Spaces should also be designated for command centers during crises and for staff testing.
Picture
Dining on wheels is useful when residents need to quarantine or isolate—food is delivered on a cart. But communal dining is important to residents’ wellbeing and can be done safely in combination with other strategies. Tables can be spaced far apart and residents can eat in small groups at assigned times.
Picture
Zoning, cohort, or household models can help minimize the spread of disease. These smaller, homelike settings also improve the quality of life of residents through increased opportunities for community-building and privacy. The Green House Project has developed a successful model.
Picture
Outdoor-indoor spaces such as porches and decks offer a connection to nature and the outside world. They allow residents to sit back and observe but also provide space for exercise. These areas are often larger than interior spaces and can therefore accommodate both physical distancing and visual connection.
Contact us to discuss our work with assisted living communities, and how we can help you implement new strategies in care home design.
Sources:
​
National Institute of Health: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7603995/
American Institute of Architects: www.aia.org/resources/6307024-strategies-for-safer-senior-living-communi
www.blindtex.com/medical-track/
room.com/pages/meeting-room
elliq.com/
​
www.joneszylon.com/Products/Long-Term-Care-Products/Heated-Refrigerated-Meal-Delivery-Carts/
www.steelcase.com/products/sofas/surround/?drawer_main=images&drawer_sub=on-white
​​www.thegreenhouseproject.org/
8 Comments
tatsiana greenberg link
1/7/2021 02:19:49 pm

This is a very important topic! thank you for sharing

Reply
David Sisson Architecture link
1/7/2021 02:46:54 pm

Thanks! We are just beginning, I think, to fully understand what the pandemic will mean moving forward. As in so many other areas, it will transform the way we design assisted living communities and other congregate settings.

Reply
Claire Hoover link
8/6/2021 11:17:05 pm

Great article! Thank you for sharing this informative post, and looking forward to the latest one.

Reply
galuapluservices-2 link
11/22/2021 04:57:39 am

Excellent article! Your post is essential today

Reply
Robert Dickerman link
4/22/2022 01:37:59 pm

We will need to increase the standard square footage dedicated to this. Single rather than shared rooms are desirable, I truly appreciate your great post!

Reply
Arthur Marshall link
4/28/2022 05:37:21 pm

Spaces should also be designated for command centers during crises and for staff testing. Thank you for the beautiful post!

Reply
Jimmie Sands link
6/18/2022 02:30:18 am

But communal dining is important to residents’ wellbeing and can be done safely in combination with other strategies. I’m so thankful for your helpful post!

Reply
Lloyd Sisco link
6/21/2022 11:39:07 am

As porches and decks offer a connection to nature and the outside world. They allow residents to sit back and observe but also provide space for exercise. Thank you for making this such an awesome post!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Adaptive Reuse
    Architect-Developer
    Architect In RI
    Commercial Architecture
    Diversity In Architecture
    Historic Preservation
    Loft Conversion
    Office Interior Architecture
    Office Interior Design
    Providence Architect
    Providence Architecture
    Rhode Island Architect
    Tenant Fit Out

    RSS Feed

Location

© 2013-2021 David Sisson Architecture, PC

David Sisson Architecture is a full service professional architecture firm based in East Providence, Rhode Island. We are licensed, registered, and insured for architectural services in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, providing both commercial architecture and residential architecture services. David Sisson is available for institutional architectural design, assisted living design, new construction and remodeling, and office and retail interior design.

Contact Us

1.401.595.7070

info@ds-arch.com

David Sisson Architecture
​345 Taunton Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
Book an appointment with DAVID SISSON using Setmore
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Portfolio
  • Case Studies
    • East Side Double Decker Remodel
    • Daycare Expansion Project
    • Commerical Loft Conversion
    • Luxury Single Family Hingham
    • Elementary School Renovation
    • Urban Single Family Providence
    • Investment Property Remodel
    • Assisted Living Addition
    • Providence Place Mall Interior
    • Jewelry Factory Loft Conversion
    • 12-Unit Apartment Building
  • Reviews
  • Book a Consultation
  • Our Team
  • Blog