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Is Your Program Space Hiding in A Closet?By Sandra Lenthem Yeo
A new "shopping list" of amenities is showing up in leasing reports across the country causing many owners/operators of existing assisted and independent living facilities to go back to the drawing board to assess the impact it is having on vacancies and lost revenues. Seniors and their families are looking for retirement living opportunities that provide activity programs that will support them in the pursuit of their individual interests, both existing and anticipated. Their interests and hobbies vary widely, but the philosophy is simple: seniors shouldn't be expected to change their life interests to mold into a community's activity programs; the community's programs must evolve to fit the residents.
A critical look at the "nooks and crannies" of any retirement community will reveal that an abundance of underutilized or under-programmed space exists, and much of it can easily be modified or redesigned to create activity space. The investment is modest and it can produce a rewarding return to the bottom line. Underutilized spaces may include oversized maintenance storage rooms that were once used for carpet cleaning or lawn maintenance equipment, services that now may be outsourced or contracted. Under-programmed space may include large, over-scaled living and meeting rooms that were designed to promote a sense of community by providing areas in which larger groups of residents could gather. These rooms and their original rationale are not totally inappropriate today--but are the rooms being used? Are there new multi-level uses today that would be more appropriate? A record number of seniors are looking for a retirement experience that provides space outside their apartments, allowing them to pursue individual hobbies and interests. These smaller, program spaces spark camaraderie and are critical to supporting independence. Market studies reflect high interest in computer and business centers, bistro-style dining, gourmet coffee shops, fully equipped exercise facilities, meditation rooms, sports lounges, woodworking shops, sewing rooms, greenhouses, and fine arts studios. The first step in conducting a space evaluation assessment of a facility begins with an activity program wish list. This should be developed by activity and leasing personnel after conducting a survey of existing residents to determine their specific interest needs. The next step is to develop a space and usage chart that enables staff to determine the actual usage of all existing space. The chart should have two sections, one for active space and another for passive space. Active space includes all areas accessible to and utilized by staff and residents. The chart should include the number of residents or staff who use the space, the purpose for which it is used and the periods of the day when usage occurs. Passive space includes closets, open or enclosed stairwells, and underused hallway seating areas, landings, or lobbies.
Boutique program space ideas are endless and they provide a low-cost means for exceeding the retirement living expectations of today's market. So, the next time a prospective resident asks if your community has a stained glass studio, take a look in your closet before you say "no." Sandra Lenthem Yeo is vice president of corporate development for Senior Star Living, the largest Oklahoma-based owner and operator of independent retirement communities. The portfolio includes eight senior communities with 1,305 congregate care and assisted living residences in: New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas.
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"My
dad wants to know if you have an office with a computer and a fax machine for
him to use and my mom is looking for a community that has a painting studio so
she can keep her easel ..." If the leasing people in your community haven't
heard these statements, then what they have heard in recent months is
probably even more remarkable!
Providing
a card room, pool table, and solarium doesn't mean much to a senior who doesn't
play cards, enjoy billiards, or have an avid interest in house plants. Does this
mean that owners need to consider a full-scale interior remodel or add more
square footage in order to house additional program space and be more
competitive? Fortunately the answer is "no." What it does mean is, to
stay competitive, establish a niche in the market and meet retirement living
expectations. The existing space usage should be revisited with the help of a
space evaluation assessment.
Evaluating
the data from the activity program wish list and the space and usage chart will
enable the development of a new space plan for the community. Underutilized
closets, landings, stairwells, and seating areas may provide the ideal location
for a small business center, sewing corner, or darkroom. Under-programmed
spaces, if matched with uses that have compatible noise and light levels, may
result in a portion of the library becoming the new resident computer center,
the former ice cream parlor may evolve into a new gourmet coffee house; or the
solarium may become a meditation garden or a fine arts studio.
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