By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

Home should be a safe place to come to every day. It’s where you should be able to rest your head at night without fear and receive care from loved ones. However, not everyone is that lucky. For some people, home isn’t the paradise that many have made it be. Veterans, for example, have a unique set of needs that aren’t easily met in regular care settings, especially as they age. 

Knowing this, more designers have started to create senior care facilities specifically with veterans in mind. Healthcare Facilities Today recently spoke with Sara Malin, principal, Wold Architects and Engineers on the design choices that are made for these types of facilities and why they are important. 

HFT: How do you design shared spaces that foster socialization, particularly for veterans who might have a stronger sense of camaraderie compared to the general population? What about for residents who might be introverted or struggling with emotional trauma? 

Sara Malin: We design communal areas that encourage social interaction through flexible layouts that can support group activities, informal gatherings or even quiet companionship. For those who may be more introverted or dealing with emotional trauma, we incorporate smaller, quieter nooks and lounges where individuals can watch the activities on the campus and feel part of the community, but on their own terms. This balance allows residents to engage as they feel comfortable, creating spaces for both connection and reflection. 

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HFT: How do you incorporate veterans' cultural and military identity into the design without making it overwhelming or impersonal for residents who may not want constant reminders of their service? 

Malin: We work with stakeholders in each community to gain an understanding of what type of military displays and finish selections are appropriate for their population. Designers can have a lot of fun incorporating military-inspired designs into finishes, art and accessories, but we take our cues for what is appropriate from each community to ensure selections don’t go too far and look kitschy. All veterans’ rooms are private in new veterans’ campuses, so each veteran has full control to decorate their room with their own personal preferences. 

HFT: How can designers integrate features like video calling rooms, adaptive tech or secure communications to help residents connect with outside family and friends? 

Malin: Technology and expectations are evolving rapidly. Many of the veterans who are moving in now have their own wireless smartphones and laptops, so they are able to connect directly with their loved ones from their private rooms. To allow this to happen, we ensure the WIFI has the bandwidth and coverage needed for these personal devices to be used on-demand. The private rooms are also outfitted with televisions and data outlets to facilitate the use of smart TVs or streaming devices and allow for video conferencing. 

Additionally, private dining and meeting rooms are designed with the technology in place so that family members can attend events and care conferences virtually. The community gathering rooms allow residents to watch an event remotely or to broadcast events within the room to the outside world. This typically includes speakers, cameras, wireless mics and podium inputs for portable technology use. For those requiring hearing assistance, the community gathering rooms also have hearing loops in place that amplify the sound sources in the room and broadcast them directly to a veteran’s hearing aide. These features need to be planned early so the necessary systems can be coordinated to meet their desired use and procured for installation during the construction phase of a project. 

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market.