Modern retirement developments are shaking off their bland ‘jelly and custard’ reputation, embracing cutting-edge design principles that cater to the preferences and lifestyle expectations of an increasingly discerning new crop of retirees.
“This is especially evident in luxury retirement communities, where prospective residents are leaving their multi-million-rand family homes and don’t expect to compromise on the tasteful design and modern comforts they’ve enjoyed for many years in their new living situation,” shares Gus van der Spek, owner of upmarket retirement lifestyle development Wytham Estate in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs.
He adds that “forward-thinking retirement developers are focused on creating spaces that prioritise not only aesthetic beauty and modern furnishings, but are also designed to promote wellness, community, sustainability and technology integration.”
Van der Spek reveals the top five retirement estate design trends that are reshaping modern senior living as follows:
- Subtle design aesthetics meets safety and accessibility
The reality is that mobility – the ability to move with ease – deteriorates as one ages, and retirement developments need to be built with design principles that accommodate this.
“When most people think about accessible design in retirement living, they think about the obvious: Wheelchair ramps and multiple lifts,” comments van der Spek. “However, a future-thinking developer will go the extra mile and consider all the small design snags that can hamper accessibility, such as wide doors and corridors for easy turning while in a wheelchair; ‘step-free’ entrance doors, ‘grab bars’ close to toilets and walk-in showers that contain handrails to prevent slippage.”
- Wellness-centred design
Van der Spek shares that most retirement developers have recognised the importance of exercise in the promotion of healthy ageing, factoring in on-site amenities like gyms, croquet lawns, yoga studios and tennis courts in their development design plans.
“Daily light exercise among seniors has been proven as an effective method of keeping not only the body active, but the brain too – counteracting some of the negative impacts of ageing.”
Recently, biophilic design trends are becoming increasingly prominent in wellness-centred design, incorporating natural features like ‘living plant walls’, water fountains and glass atriams that maximise natural night – with the benefits of increased Vitamin D exposure including improved sleep patterns and emotional well-being.
- Smart technology
‘Smart’ retirement units that make use of remote-controlled technology provide residents with greater control over their surroundings for maximum comfort and convenience.
“This can range from simple smart touches such as temperature and lighting controls to voice-controlled virtual assistants that provide information and make appointments,” shares van der Spek. “These features rely on a high-speed, fibre-optic internet connection – an absolute non-negotiable for today’s retirees,” shares van der Spek.
“A growing percentage of residents are continuing to work in some capacity after moving into retirement developments to retain their independence and ensure financial security, meaning that a reliable internet connection is essential. This also allows residents to video chat with family members and friends who may be overseas, reducing feelings of isolation.”
He adds that several new, senior-focused smart devices are coming onto the market, including medication management systems, fall detection sensors that can alert medical respondents and programmable switches to automatically switch-off potential fire-hazard appliances like stoves and irons.
- Eco-friendly living
It goes without saying that all this smart technology requires a robust and uninterrupted power supply – something that isn’t always guaranteed in South Africa, where the threat of load-shedding is ever present.
“The impact of load-shedding is especially devastating on the country’s elderly population, increasing the risks of falls in the dark, or those who rely on lifts due to impaired mobility being trapped in their units while the power is out,” says van der Spek. “To combat this, retirement developments have invested in back-up, off-grid alternative power sources like a generator to power emergency circuits (such as lifts), gas stoves within units and solar panels to power invertors and batteries to ensure that lights and essential services remain on during outages.”
Renewable energy sources like solar power have the benefits of promoting eco-friendly and sustainable design principles, reducing the carbon footprint of residents while lowering energy costs. “We’re taking sustainable living a step further at Wytham Estate with the construction of an on-site water treatment plant to ensure that groundwater from onsite boreholes is safe for drinking and irrigation purposes,” he adds.
- Design that promotes inter-generational connections
A major challenge for retirement developers is combating feelings of isolation among residents, an issue that remains despite the numerous socialisation and connection opportunities provided by most developments.
“Modern developments are increasingly adding features that promote inter-generational connections on-site, giving younger family members the opportunity to interact with senior residents in comfort and for longer periods of time, which is especially useful for those hosting overseas visitors,” shares van der Spek.
Some developments have gone so far as to add a small number of boutique hotel rooms on-site to accommodate visiting family members. Embracing mixed-use development design principles, many senior living communities also include retail, dining, and recreational facilities alongside their residential offerings to encourage residents to forge deeper connections and maximise the enjoyment of their Golden Years.
“These emerging design trends reflect a shift towards more holistic and inclusive approaches to retirement living, with developers actively working to enhance the quality of life of residents by addressing their physical, emotional, and social needs,” van der Spek concludes.
