The question of how best to create homelike communities in the senior living market is a ubiquitous one, and for good reason—these spaces will be home to the residents who live there.

It’s believed that communities that manage to achieve this will be better positioned than those that don’t quite mimic the real-life home environments that none of us ever really want to leave. But just looking at the houses in and inhabitants of my own neighborhood, it soon becomes evident that exactly how one may define “home” could have any number of answers.

A white paper published in April, “Senior Living Community Design Preferences,” tries to get to the heart of just that. Life Care Services, Spellman Brady & Co., and Zillner partnered in an effort to identify the characteristics that make a senior living community feel like home via an online survey. Participants included current residents of a CCRC ages 65 to 85, prospective residents ages 70 to 82, and adult children with a family member in a CCRC ages 50 to 63.

Here’s how it worked: The survey participants were asked to compare design styles, such as those found in lobbies or dining rooms, by viewing a series of photographs and pinpointing specific features within those settings that either appealed to them or turned them off. A side-by-side comparison of three distinct styles—traditional, transitional, and contemporary/modern—allowed them to record reactions, specifically how details contributed (or didn’t) to a feeling of home.


So what did they find? First, a transitional approach was king, with favorable reactions across all participant groups, although adult children (the next generation of residents) also liked the contemporary/modern spaces.

Here are a few other common preferences that the study team found should be considered across all areas in senior living communities:

  • Natural light—Access to daylight and views outdoors were highly favored over spaces that felt dark or had window treatments blocking light.
  • Décor and accessories—This one requires a delicate balance, avoiding trinkets and collectables that may appear as clutter and instead adding pieces that are functional. Respondents wanted to be able to move about freely without bumping into things or be able to hold conversations without peeking over a large centerpiece.
  • Comfortable seating—Choices that offered high backs were viewed as too private and uninviting, while comfortable arrangements that promoted social interaction were preferred.
  • Safety—Elements that may immediately invoke visions of home, such as wood floors or area rugs, were a turnoff for many thanks to safety concerns. The same goes for monochromatic color schemes. Respondents instead preferred clear contrast in colors and clear floor planes that aren’t too slippery.
  • Possessions—Look around—it’s oftentimes what we’ve collected, treasured, or maintained over the years that make us feel most comfortable. And the respondents were no different, preferring spaces that allowed them to be surrounded by things they love, from pictures of family to gardens to pets.

The survey report goes on to break down preferences for details across community areas, from lobbies to dining spaces to corridors, with images that were included in the survey and feedback on likes and dislikes.

Overall, though, it’s the details that really mattered. “Furnishings, design style, and décor are no longer afterthoughts in a senior living community. Design elements play a significant role in making a senior living community ‘feel like home’—and may ultimately impact a prospect’s purchase decision,” the paper states.