Seniors Housing Business is the magazine that helps you navigate the evolution of the seniors housing industry.
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Acquisition criteria: · Skilled Nursing Facilities (Real estate and operations) · Hospice Care · SNF Licences · Pharmacy Joseph Levine 718-247-9885 x1 JL@SNFventures.com Intiate Acquisition Mode . . . As a Acquisition wing of a principal Owner/Operator. You will be talking to the "Man behind the Man" Balancing function and style "Community design has become something of a multigen- erational thing now," says JSR's Rohde. "We're seeing a push toward more multiple genera- tions living in the same commu- nity. It's not just older people or just frail people." Sometimes the end result is furniture that's not appropriate for everyone in the building. "What limits furniture is incorrect dimensions — way too high, way too low, too soft," says Rohde. "We've seen residents have to pull other residents out of chairs because the cushion was too soft." Kwalu tries to design around this issue by having furniture match stylistically, but with subtle differences depending on the intended use. Changes can include more rounded edges on furniture in memory care facili- ties, frm chair cushions and arm rests at the appropriate height to help lift oneself out of a chair. "There are distinct differences, but maybe not to somebody walking through a campus," says Kwalu's Zusman. "We try to be patient-centered in our design." studioSIX5, which occasion- ally uses Kwalu furniture in its designs, says keeping a con- sistent look is key, particularly in continuing care retirement communities. "Our philosophy is that the aesthetic carries through to all levels of care," says Maddalena. "If a resident one day is in inde- pendent living and the next day goes to assisted living, we believe that senior should be sitting in the same dining chair. If a fam- ily member visits a memory care unit, he or she doesn't want to see that a parent is getting any- thing less." Styles can run the gamut, ranging from modern to classic to transitional. There are also Asian-inspired styles and West- ern styles. Ultimately, the style chosen is based on the location and cost of each individual community. Even in skilled nursing, the design can still carry through into specialized equipment for seniors with the highest acuity levels, says Maddalena. Furniture design has to take into account more than just the residents themselves. In high-traffc areas, furniture is exposed to abuse from wheel- chairs, walkers, vacuum cleaners and harsh handling in general. Maddalena says the way to prepare for abuse is to build around the expected use of the furniture. Preparations can include anything from the stra- tegic placement of a handle on the back of a chair to reinforcing sofas in places where they often are bumped by residents or staff. Advanced materials pave the way The most important part of making facilities look less clini- cal, according to JSR's Rohde, is Furniture in the theater room at Home Holladay Community in Holladay, Utah, features specialized seating for seniors including built-in and adjustable tables. 46 www.seniorshousingbusiness.com Seniors Housing Business n February-March 2015