Predicting the future can be hard. But the good news is there's always someone analyzing trends and data to give you a glimpse into what's ahead.
Planning, designing, and building healthcare facilities and senior living communities is a future scenario, too. Because it often takes a long time before a project is finished.
Here are five recent reports that offer some great insights to inform healthcare and senior living design.
1. Meeting the Growing Demand for Age-Friendly Care, Age Wave. John A. Hartford Foundation, Harris Poll
Results of a survey of 5,000 American adults, half of them age 65 and older. Identifies and explores the five forces disrupting/transforming healthcare today for older adults: the age wave; healthspan-lifespan gap; fragmentation, high costs and inequity in healthcare; workforce shortages; and advances in medical science, AI and healthcare delivery.
Key recommendation: Delivering empathetic and respectful care tailored to the needs, circumstances, preferences, and goals of the individual.
2. The Future of Senior Living in 2025, Lument and Senior Housing News
This survey of operators provides a deeper look into the factors defining the senior living landscape in 2015. Key issues examined are navigating the challenging hiring environment, planning to drive occupancy, and approaching inorganic growth opportunities.
Good news: Fifty-eight percent believe the industry will see an increase in new construction starts in the year ahead; and renovation and repositioning remains a top growth strategy. But since this survey was done before the current administration began gutting U.S. healthcare agencies and programs, who knows if this will happen?
3. The Future of Health Report: A Prescription for Better Healthcare, ZS
A thoughtful report from this management consulting and technology firm based on a survey of 12,000 healthcare consumers and 1,500 healthcare providers in the U.S., Brazil, U.K., Germany, India, China, and Japan. Explores the growing demands on the availability of healthcare services that threatens health systems' ability to keep up and heightened expectations from consumers for experiences that mirror those they receive outside healthcare.
Key insight: Consumers want healthcare on their terms. Today's outdated healthcare systems aren't designed to deliver this.
4. 2025 Environmental Scan, American Hospital Association and B.E. Smith
A review of the hospital and health system landscape from the industry's leading trade organization. Comprehensive compilation of results from member surveys and other data about financial stability, workforce issues, providing better care and greater value, and consumerism. Also offers trend snapshots on eight topics, including aging in the U.S., behavioral health, rural health, and climate and health.
Fun facts: 23% of evaluation and management visits will occur virtually by 2034. More than one-third of surveyed providers plan to mix in-person, hybrid, and remote models, primarily for remote work.
5. Gensler Design Forecast 2025
The world's largest architecture and design firm shares five transformative forces set to shape the future of design and urban life worldwide. The top global design trends that will impact the real estate and the built environment are emphasizing human-centered, adaptable spaces and a shift toward resilient urban environments.
Key insight on healthcare design: Adaptive reuse of older buildings is essential for the new community model of healthcare and to address the growing need for wider patient access.
Know of other recent reports to add to this list? Post in the comment box below.
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