Five Senior Living Communities Redefining What It Means to Age Well
A new wave of design is transforming senior living into an experience rich with choice, wellness, and community connection.
Today, older adults are redefining what it means to live well. They’re looking for communities that offer connection, choice and meaningful opportunities to engage every day. At RDG, we work alongside senior living providers to design environments that reflect those aspirations — places where thoughtful reinvestment and innovative thinking create lasting value for residents and communities alike.
The following five projects illustrate how senior living communities across the country are adapting to evolving expectations by embracing new trends and positioning themselves for the future. From reimagined dining experiences to full-scale wellness transformations, each one represents a purposeful response to the needs and desires of today’s and tomorrow’s residents.
The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch: The Kiltie Expansion
Where heritage meets hospitality.
At The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, in Sarasota, Florida, the Kiltie expansion blends the charm of Scottish tradition with the latest in dining and social design. Inspired by the community’s heritage, the space features warm, pub-style interiors, flexible seating arrangements and multiple dining venues that create a lively hub for members. The design encourages spontaneous conversations over coffee, intimate dinners with friends or festive gatherings that spill into shared spaces. It’s an approach rooted in a growing consumer desire for authenticity, and places that honor identity while delivering modern comfort and connection.
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Manor Park: From Memory Care to Wellness Hub
Turning care spaces into lifestyle destinations.
In Midland, Texas, Manor Park has rewritten the story of an aging skilled memory care facility, transforming it into a dynamic wellness center that reflects the energy and aspirations of today’s residents. The new space includes an indoor pickleball court, golf simulator, state-of-the-art fitness studios, group wellness areas and even infrared therapy.
The goal? To create an environment where movement, social connection and personal growth are part of everyday life. This reinvention speaks to a larger trend: communities investing in amenities that rival private clubs and boutique gyms, making wellness a central part of the resident experience.
Immanuel Lakeside: Reimagining Skilled Nursing
Raising expectations at every care level.
Skilled nursing care has long been associated with clinical, utilitarian spaces. But Immanuel Lakeside in Omaha, Nebraska, is proving it doesn’t have to be that way. Through thoughtful reinvestment, the community’s skilled nursing areas now feature bright, modern interiors, upgraded amenities and social spaces that invite connection. The result is an environment that feels consistent with the rest of the campus, ensuring residents receive not just high-quality care, but an equally high-quality living experience. For consumers, this aligns with a growing expectation: that every corner of a senior living community — from independent living to skilled care — should feel welcoming, dignified and designed for life.
Aberdeen Ridge: Dining, Differentiated
Three venues, endless possibilities.
When Aberdeen Ridge in Colorado Springs, Colorado, embarked on its new campus, the community had the rare opportunity to completely reimagine its dining program. Rather than retrofit existing space, the design team developed three distinct venues from the ground up, each with its own identity, menu style and atmosphere. Each restaurant name draws from local ties and resident meaning, creating spaces that feel both personal and authentic.
From casual, everyday dining to elevated, special-occasion experiences, the program offers variety and choice that reflect the expectations of today’s older adults. With strong branding and signage design support from Scopos Hospitality, Aberdeen Ridge’s dining venues stand as destinations that elevate daily life and strengthen community connection.
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Brewster Place: Elevating Independent Living
Strategic reinvestment for the next generation.
Brewster Place in Topeka, Kansas, is making a bold statement about the value of reinvestment. By adding a new floor of penthouse apartments, upgrading independent living units and introducing a revitalized dining program, the community is elevating its appeal for current and future residents. These updates go beyond aesthetics, signaling that the community is in tune with what the next wave of older adults want: spacious, upscale living, fresh amenities and a lifestyle that feels worth the investment.
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These projects show the impact of intentional design that’s both responsive to today’s residents and adaptable for the future. By rethinking existing spaces, introducing fresh amenities and creating environments that foster connection and well-being, each community is making a clear commitment to enhancing the lives of those who live, work and visit there.
As senior living continues to evolve, communities that anticipate and respond to residents’ expectations are best positioned to remain relevant and resilient.