Perkins Eastman Principal Architect Perkins Eastman
Identify
challenges and opportunities in designing spaces that support connection, collaboration, and well-being across generations.
Learn
Understand what senior living design can teach us about encouraging interaction across age groups. the methods used in this study to find useful design ideas from senior living environments. how intergenerational design helps create inclusive, diverse spaces.
Explore
Agenda
Defining Senior Living Benefits of Intergenerational Living Considerations for Intergenerational Living Workshop
– Let’s Ideate
Intergenerational design is just good design.
What drove the formation of senior living?
Longevity & Demographic Shifts
• Life expectancy increased dramatically.
• Surge in 65+ population created sustained care demand.
Medicalization of Aging
• Aging reframed as a medical issue.
• Growth in chronic illness and institutional care.
Smaller, Mobile Families
• Decline of multigenerational households.
• Adult children often live far from aging parents.
More Women in the Workforce
• Traditional caregivers entering full-time work.
• Reduced informal care capacity at home.
Economic Growth & Financial Independence
• Post-war prosperity and retirement savings enabled choice.
• Seniors gained autonomy over housing and care.
Policy & Regulation (Medicare & Medicaid, 1965)
• Medicare: funded short-term medical care.
• Medicaid: funded long-term nursing home care.
• Catalyzed formal care infrastructure.
“Times are hard and there’s no room for my aging parents in our small apartment."
1920s-1940s
“I’ve earned my rest I'm ready for a quiet place with people my own age."
1960s-1970s
“I chose this community because of the amenities fitness center, salon, events calendar. I’m ‘retired and thriving.’”
2000s-2010s
“When I grow old, I’ll stay with my children that’s just how it’s always been.
"Mom needs more help than we can give. The doctor says a nursing home is best it’s not home, but at least she’ll be taken care of.
“I want to keep my independence, but I need a little help. It’s not a nursing home it’s better than that.”
“I don’t want to be isolated with only people my age. I have stories to share, hands to help, and more growing to do.”
Primarily 55+
TRADITIONAL SENOR LIVING
Health care, aging in place
Often agesegregated
Support for aging needs
AGE FOCUS DESIGN PURPOSE
Social connection, mutual support
Age-segregated
All ages Crossgenerational enrichment
TRADITIONAL SENIOR LIVING
VS.
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING
Institutional care limits activity
Tsai et al., 2020
Emotional support often lacking
Sapkota et al., 2020
Physical Health
Mental
Well-being
Isolation risks are higher
Tsai et al., 2020
Purpose often not reinforced
Sapkota et al., 2020
Often institutional atmosphere
Tsai et al., 2020
Social Interaction
Improves quality-of-life markers
Ducharme et al., 2024
Reduces loneliness and isolation
PMC Study, 2020
Stronger community and connection
Brenton et al., 2021
Sense of Purpose
Environment
Builds mentorship and meaning
PMC Study, 2020
Personalized, home-like setting
Labit & Dubost, 2024
Less than 5% of adults in the US Reside in Nursing Homes
How can we make living better for everyone?
77% 50+
Living Senior
TRADITIONAL HOUSING
NURSING HOMES
77% of adults over 50 want to age in place
Over the last 20 years, fewer older adults live in nursing homes,
92% of older adults want to stay in their current home,
In 2020, just 1.2 million adults over 65 lived in nursing homes. and more live in regular housing. while only 8% prefer assisted living.
Intergenerational living is just good design.
Children Adolescence
Older adults
Intergenerational
Living
Toddlers
Young adults
Adults
• Pass on their wisdom and experience to younger groups.
• Reported less feelings of loneliness
• Improveshealth and quality of life.
• Gain access to affordable housing
• Provide new ways of thinking
• Mentorship and emotional support
Older Individuals Younger People & Families Communities Society
• Stronger social fabric
• Safer and more supportive
• Resilient
• Relieves pressure on both the housing market and the healthcare system.
Safety and security
Noise and other spatial compatibility
Insights from the field
Design, policy, and cultural considerations for successful intergenerational living
Cost and financial feasibility Differences in lifestyle and expectations
Analyzed from the intergenerational task force survey conducted by a collaboration of SAGE, Design For Aging Review and The Center for Health Design
Individual and institutional resistance to change
Safety and security
• Physical safety of older adults being around children
• Increasing risk of cross contamination and spread of disease
• Security from crime or outsiders
• Fear of liability if accidents occur
Potential Strategies
• Zoning with flexibility
• Minimizing the risk of fall
• Soft security infrastructures
• Programming
• Preventing cross-contamination
Cost and Financial Feasibility
• Capital costs on redesign and construction
• Concerns on operational costs that will impact affordability
• Lack of financial models of ROI
Potential Strategies
• Apply for government grants
• Subsidized tuition/rent to reduce operational costs
• Pilot programs to increase financial/social data collection
Differences in Lifestyle and Expectations
• Different schedule and lifestyle across generations
• Mismatch of expectations for support (e.g., babysitting, transportation)
• Concerns on forced interactions as opposed to organic interactions
• Lack of interest and differences of expectations in intergenerational programs
• Planning intergenerational events and activities
• Provide opportunities for organic interactions
• Agile activity spaces for hosting different activities
• Clarifying and matching expectations Potential Strategies
Noise and other spatial compatibility
• Older adults need more quiet spaces
• Ability of space to accommodate different activity levels
Potential Strategies
• Soundproofing & Materials
• White Noise or Sound Masking
• Designated Quiet Hours
• Technology Integration
• Flexible & Adaptable Spaces
Individual and institutional resistance to change
• Generational stereotypes and lack of understanding on needs across generations
• Difficulty to change perspective on intergenerational living
• Avoiding potential issues related to legal and regulations (e.g., zoning, building codes)
• Pilot programming
• Sharing success stories
• Co-creation
• Community involvement Potential Strategies
What has been done so far and what can we learn from this?
Workshop Intergenerational Salad
Intergenerational Salad
In this activity, you have been assigned the role of a strategist for an exciting new intergenerational housing development. Your mission is to help design a successful, sustainable, and inclusive project that meets the needs of multiple generations while strengthening the surrounding community.
I would like to see intergenerational design be so normal it's just called good design… A truly intergenerational design will appeal and draw in people from all walks of life, all nationalities, and every culture.
Senior housing would just be called housing where they share their space with families, young professionals, newly empty nesters, along with many, many others...We can incorporate businesses, clinics, offices, daycares, fitness gyms, cafes, and others into the fabric of the community that would create spaces that would have something for everyone.
A place that is just called "home," and everyone wants to be there
