By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

One of the toughest things someone can do is admit that they need help. For the elderly, pride gets pushed aside more often as they are no longer to do things that they were once able to. In senior living communities, one of the ways that residents can maintain their independence is navigating their new home on their own. To help aid in this, designers have started implementing wayfinding designs that are inclusive for all.  

Healthcare Facilities Today recently spoke with Jill Quam and Tiffany Petri, interior designers with Wold Architects and Engineers on new wayfinding strategies that help seniors in their communities.  

HFT: What materials and construction methods can be used to ensure that the wayfinding components are durable and low maintenance? 

Jill Quam and Tiffany Petri: Areas that have heavy foot traffic should have resilient flooring considered with options for carpet insets inside programing areas off the main travel path. This not only helps with easier maintenance but the change in flooring signifies a new area with a different programing aiding in additional way finding. Pending programing needs + type of traffic, utilizing impact resistance gypsum board, and applied wall protection including impact corner guards can be used to provide durability for walkers, wheelchairs + carts that frequently rub against walls, these materials provide easy maintenance as there is minimal patch + repair and repainting required, additionally they offer higher end finish options providing an elevated aesthetic. 

HFT: What regulatory standards or guidelines (e.g., ADA requirements) need to be followed to ensure the wayfinding design is inclusive and compliant? 

Quam and Petri: Things to consider in making wayfinding within a senior living community inclusive and ADA compliant: Overall widths of corridors should be appropriate for the occupancy building type and free of obstacles such as decorative wall lighting, furniture and equipment that does not impede into the required space needed for the circulation path. Points of transitions should provide five-foot turning areas to allow passage and easy navigation for those in walkers + wheelchairs preventing collisions and bottle neck situations in high traffic areas. Handrails should be available to assist residents in independently navigating throughout the community.

Designers are aware that flooring material plays a vital role in making a community easy to navigate; making sure level and smooth transition are implemented and are ADA compliant and easy for residents to traverse. For example, carpet pads should not be installed in senior living communities as it's difficult for residents in walkers and wheelchairs to traverse over due to the extra cushioning. Commercial carpet tiles offer several options with no cushion and have come a long way in providing a more hospitality + residential aesthetic making this a great for solution for senior living communities, not only for ease of traversing for residents but for the staff and maintenance team to clean and replace if needed. 

Related: Destigmatizing Senior Living Communities Through Design

HFT: How is technology being used for wayfinding in senior care facilities? How is this implemented in a way so that it won’t overwhelm seniors? 

Quam and Petri: A common way technology is implemented is digital signage or digital community programing schedules. Wayfinding comes in multiple forms, and one is how programming and activities are communicated to the residents + visitors at the community. Often communities implement a digital screen in their front lobby areas that run a loop providing activity schedules for the day or week that area taking place at the community. These can additionally be implemented in elevator lobbies sections of the community so that all residents have an opportunity to learn about the different events taking place. This allows them to have a clear understanding of the location of that activity so they can navigate themselves to the correct location. Digital signage can be used in heavy programing rooms so that a daily rooms schedule can be displayed so residents, visitors + staff are aware if a room is booked for an activity, or they can utilize the space for impromptu activities at that time. These are small easy touches that don’t overwhelm the residents or staff within the space. 

HFT: What strategies are used to clearly delineate different areas (e.g., living quarters, dining areas, recreational spaces) to aid in wayfinding? 

Quam and Petri: This can be achieved on multiple fronts. Starting with the space plan for the community and the natural progression of spaces clustering complimenting services + programing spaces and providing a central amenity hub creating direct + easy access to programing spaces. Moving into decorative architectural finishes + elements that set the space apart from ceiling heights along its finishes down to the wall + flooring finishes + transitions. Transition for flooring finish creating and “entry” into a new programming space and utilizing those finishes that provide elements to draw people down a corridor or into spaces. Utilizing the casework, artwork + decorative wall applications, furniture + greenery to create points of interest and be reflective of the programing needs within the space. 

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor of the facilities market.