US: Boston-based The Architectual Team architects Michael Liu and Anthony Vivirito have said they believe assisted living services will return to a ‘neighbourhood’ planning model as the Covid-19 pandemic impacts the long-term care sector.
Speaking to architecture publication Archinect, Liu said the pandemic would require large assisted living facilities to ‘reorganise’ themselves into groups of 10 to 16 residents in their own suites, which would include their own dining areas, amenities, en-suite laundry facilities and designated caregivers.
In addition, residents would need to have access to enhanced sanitary measures such as dedicated washing stations and isolation rooms for residents showing symptoms of the coronavirus, as well as bi-polar ionisation HVAC systems.
Families and friends may also be subjected to changes in visitation hours and the rooms in which they can meet with their loved one.
Vivirito also told the publication that the firm had “converted a residential unit into a dedicated area for visitors, separated by a glass wall and with its own HVAC system” in an ongoing project.
He added: “We created an exterior door specifically so the visitor is able to enter the suite directly.
