The satisfaction of residents in retirement villages is key to their perception, popularity and therefore long-term commercial success. Human-centric design is fundamental to health, wellbeing and happiness.

Recent research studies have investigated the level of residents’ satisfaction, which has not only attracted attention from the academic circles but from government and non-governmental organisations too.

Latest trends

Research into this sector is increasingly looking at human-factors, as well as how schemes can operate as sustainable as possible.

What needs to be done

It’s not surprising that there was overwhelming support for Government action, as ARCO’s survey responses show:

Do you agree that Government should encourage the development of a wider range of housing options for older people, including those where care is available for those who need it?

Would you be interested in a housing option where care was available onsite if you need it, as an alternative to a care home?

Do you feel there are enough downsizing options available in your local area, including those with care?

Similarly, in response to research findings, providers in the US, Australia and New Zealand are placing the community focus at the forefront of their vision for their existing and future developments. The UK requirements from a retirement community align with this and, when surveyed, people prioritised…

Source: Octopus Real Estate

Emerging UK key themes

• Exploration into how the economic, social and financial sustainability can be enhanced holistically.
• Opening the building to general public to create more vibrant atmosphere, enhance social engagement for residents, and generate revenue streams.
• Integration with the wider community via bus services into the nearest village/town and the investment in creating local allotments and other spaces for volunteering and art projects.
• Awareness of clarity and affordability around energy use and how it translates into the cost of living for residents.
• Site planning and indoor environmental factors based health and wellbeing factors, such as increasing the rate of fresh air for better air quality, ensuring optimum daylight provision and indoor lighting that considers the circadian rhythm of residents, and a fabric-first approach that maximises thermal comfort (and reduces energy usage).

Designing a truly sustainable scheme requires a joined-up consideration of the five areas of ‘value’ that can be created:

“Ultimately, the importance of creating communities for our ever-increasing elderly population cannot be underestimated. When done well, later living developments will enhance the health & wellbeing of a vast majority of people, support social value for society as a whole, and as such act as a strongly ethical investment for funders.”