CREJ

July 2021 — Health Care & Senior Housing Quarterly — Page 31 www.crej.com Ventilation systems and the addi- tion of antimicrobial surfaces and finishes will be enhanced moving forward. For existing buildings, duct sanitizers can be added to the duc- twork. These “no maintenance” air purifiers are easy to install but do require power for operation. Smaller community spaces allow for social- ization to occur within safer spaces where additional negative pressure can be created with the mechanical system. Also, antimicrobial filters in all mechanical equipment should be a consideration, but confirm that existing equipment operations are not compromised. Carpet, wall cov- erings and countertops can be fin- ished with antimicrobial materials, and we know that copper or silver nanoparticles imbedded in highly touched surfaces are toxic to germs. Reallocating storage space with an emphasis on eliminating items no longer needed, such as broken or out- dated furniture, fixtures and equip- ment, to make room for additional personal protective equipment will be a recommendation moving forward. Rearranging entry sequence into buildings and locating an office adja- cent to the entry vestibule may also be a future design consideration. This space can be designed with a “pass-through window” that can be concealed with a flush or decora- tive panel or located behind a piece of artwork that can be removed to render the window operable. All other doors can be locked for entry, making sure not to obstruct egress requirements and ensuring any- one entering the building through the main entry can be screened as necessary. Another concept is to design a room with movable glass partitions where residents and their families can communicate with one another in rooms equipped with communication systems, resulting in a more natural “visiting” setting. The pandemic has given us an opportunity to ask important ques- tions about the care and safety of our older adults and the staff, friends and family who care for them and to integrate this valuable feedback into the design process moving forward. At the core of my personal lessons learned is the importance of moving from sym- pathy to empathy as we design the next generation of senior care com- munities – allowing seniors to safely enjoy and engage in their communi- ties. s gprager@hcm2.com Prager Continued from Page 29 IRIS22 Productions LLC Offering “resort-style” amenities, such as multiple choices for dining venues, allows residents to maintain independence and build their desired lifestyle, all without needing to leave their community. munities, we work to push these functions toward public entrances, make them suitable for our resi- dents and the community and make them flexible enough to accommo- date multiple uses. Health and wellness underpins all of these things. Much like athletes need certain equipment, facilities and nutrition to reach their top level of fitness to perform, seniors need the same level of specialization to enable them to live full and engaged lives in their community. In many of our communities we are build- ing wellness centers that generate income with outside memberships because it allows us to build some- thing larger that gives the residents more options while also inviting the community in, which further enriches the lives of residents. Talk- ing with Fletcher about wellness, he said Senior Housing Partners and Presbyterian Homes have found a lot of success connecting wellness to the outdoors because, while some- one might not find great enjoyment in walking on a treadmill for 20 min- utes, they might walk 30 minutes to see something beautiful on the other side of the property. Creating opportunities like these that inspire our community resi- dents to be their best is what makes our work as designers, develop- ers and community leaders truly rewarding, and hopefully one of the ideas shared here will help you do that on your next project. s bfoster@lantz-boggio.com Foster Continued from Page 29