What are Seniors and Their Families Looking for in St. Louis Senior Living Facilities?

At a recent SMPS St. Louis chapter gathering, that was part of the discussion by the panel of executives from local senior living providers, including Mark Schoedel, Vice President of Construction and Technology at Lutheran Senior Services; Joshua Jennings, Owner of Cedarhurst Living; Jill Frein, Corporate Project Manager at Bethesda Health Group, Inc.; and Diane Meatheany, Chief Operating Officer at St. Andrew’s Management Services. 

The three factors discussed most had to do with:

• Delivering value for seniors
• Creating a home like environment
• Offering specialized care to the residents

Seniors today are very concerned with getting value for their dollar.  Many are supplementing their children in some way due to the ongoing sluggish economy.  For that reason, LEED certified designs are not a driving force in senior housing design today.  Developers are not willing to force higher initial costs onto the residents.  So for now, look to sustainable products and construction methods that can deliver a quick return on investment and improve indoor air quality. 

 

Creating a feeling of home and a more spa-like environment are what are on the minds of senior care providers these days.  The de-institutionalization of the facility is the trend that is creating more hospitality-based designs.  Most providers agreed that this is spurring new construction, as well as, a concerted effort to maintain older buildings with refreshed finishes.  Evaluation of existing facilities should be undertaken carefully to determine whether replacement is a more cost effective solution.

 

The final trend in senior living is the increased demand for specialized care and services.  This demand keeps Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) attractive to potential seniors, since these organizations have a full range of services on-site that can meet residents' now and down the road.  Skilled Rehab wings with dedicated physical and occupational therapy areas are a growing sector of new construction.  They offer a great short term alternative for patients or residents transitioning back home or to a lower level of care, and it offers a revenue stream for the facilities.  Memory Care will continue to require new projects that demand unique surroundings, catering to this level of care.  Having experienced senior living design professionals involved from the start is key to the success of a dementia facility.  Also, the Green House model, while not seeing a lot of construction in the St. Louis area, is causing many providers to adopt Resident-Oriented Care that encourages the staff to develop better relationships with their ‘family’ of patients and creates a more satisfying experience for nursing home residents.