Third Age Design

It’s become the norm to hear AI mentioned on a daily basis. But what does AI actually mean, and what impact is it likely to have globally on senior living? Join TAD host Lori Pinkerton-Rolet this month’s special guest Dr. Chris Papadopoulos, of the University of Bedfordshire, for an in-depth discussion on the benefits and risks...and the need for ethical and inclusive technology integration to add...

There can be no greater honour for a designer than to design the final places in which people someone will spend the final hours of their lives; the space in which family and friends will recall their final moments with their loved one. Lori speaks with Professor Emeritus Paul Eshelman, of Cornell University in the United States, about important criteria for design in these environments, as well a...

Are you aware that vinyl flooring could be considered a sustainable material? That designs have been produced specifically for people with dementia? Join Lori and her guest, Shaz Hawkins, of Tarkett, in Part 2 of our series on game changing flooring solutions. You’ll also learn about the importance of neuro-divergent flooring considerations as part of human-conscious design principles. For links t...

This month starts a 2-part series on a truly remarkable flooring solution: a new anti-bacterial, anti-viral, hard-wearing and "self-sanitising" carpet developed in Australia, a result of collaboration between design and biotechnical experts. Lori goes "down under" to speak with the two of the main participants in this incredible achievement. In this episode, you'll also lea...

The United Kingdom ranks #1 in Europe for technology, and #3 in the world (behind the US and China). So it’s hardly surprising that many of the key innovations for people with dementia come from the British Isles. In this episode we discuss - with their visionary creators - the two game-changing, yet very different, innovations that support people with dementia.

To start the New Year Third Age Design shares a TAD Extra, information usually only available to listeners who have joined our community. This TAD Extra, like those going forward, provides context from either a resident, family member or from staff, on the impact the senior living environment has had on them personally. This one-off episode allows listeners who are not currently members to hear wh...

Operators around the world are looking for an extra edge with which to compete in the increasingly crowded senior living sector. From multiple restaurant offers, to resident volunteers, this month you’ll find out how one operator in the United States has developed an atmosphere akin to a cruise ship – with high levels of staff retention and a community of vibrant and engaged residents – in part by...

Our 'World Series of Design' continues with an insider's view of a unique dementia village in France, where extensive research is underway as to how living a life of seemingly unfettered freedom in a safe environment is being tested against medication levels, depression, and anxiety. You’ll discover how interaction with the landscape, personal possessions, and the use of light and dark...

Once a year we take the opportunity to highlight some our most important content. This is essential listening and we are pleased to re-release our interview with Colin Milner. Enjoy! Buildings need to be designed with a purpose in mind, but the people using them also need purpose. In this episode, the Founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging joins Lori to review health, wellbei...

Our "World Series of Design" continues this month with a fascinating project in Iceland developed specifically for residents with dementia. It’s all in the unique geometry of this project and Lori’s guest Gudmundur Gunnarsson from Urban Arkitektar in Rekjavik explains how he made what appears to be a complicated building rather straight-forward and easy to construct. The resulting buildi...

This month we begin an important new series: "The World Series of Design"! We start by reviewing some intriguing new features of a Retirement Village which is scheduled to open later this year in South Africa: Great Oaks. When they say they offer ‘Aging in Place,' they mean it. Listen to find out how this is being delivered through design . Why is there a specific Ladies Bar (don’t m...

What do we mean by the terms "sustainability" and "green design?" In a sector with a history of lagging behind other areas of design and architecture, how can developers, architects and designers of care and retirement facilities finally move out in front? Join Lori and her guest, Danny Sharpe, of the Northstar Projects Consultancy, to explore these issues. Also in this month’s...

Research indicates that pets have important health benefits, including improved mood, lower blood pressure, increased exercise and the reduction in stress. But, if housing and/or caring for seniors, do these benefits outweigh any risks, and how might these be reduced by getting both the offer and the environment itself correct? This month, Lori is joined by three expert guests from the US, Canada,...

In the concluding episode of our mini-series: Designing for the Other Four Senses, Lori Pinkerton-Rolet speaks with the Director of Namaste Care International, Rishi Jawaheer, about the importance of ‘touch’ in a care or dementia environment.  Rishi explains what Namaste Care is…and how to facilitate its practice within an existing environment.  And, in our Innovation Spotlight, we discover how a...

Continuing our series, Designing for the Other Four Senses , Lori speaks with the international award-winning Director of The Drawing Room Interiors, Diana Celella, about taste.  Not the ‘good taste’ of a designer or architect, but the way in which interiors can have an impact on health by encouraging appetite. In a follow-up to a previous Innovation Spotlight, we also speak with Salutem Care and...

If someone asked you to describe the smell of a nursing home, what would be the first thing to pop into your head? One common answer is bleach, but it’s more likely that incontinence smells spring to mind. In part 2 of our mini-series, Designing for the Other Four Senses, Lori speaks with Roger Bensinger from Prolitec, US purveyors of scent systems and odor remediation. He explains why unpleasant...

As architects and designers, we're trained to think about the way the spaces we design look . However, the majority of people have five senses. This month we begin a special 4-part series: Designing for the Other Four Senses.  In Part 1, we look at the impact of acoustics on senior living environments with expert Nick Treby, Associate Director of Spectrum Acoustic Consultants in the UK, who h...

If you’re looking for clear and concise answers to the challenges of dementia design for your home, retirement, or care environments, you’ll find this podcast episode an informational gold mine. Join Lori and her guest, Dr. Jungie Huang, for an in-depth review of the University of Stirling’s Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Tool (EADDAT).  This episode is essential liste...

Each month, the TAD podcast features a short segment which we call our ‘Innovation Spotlight.’ These brief interviews highlight the most exciting international innovations in the senior living sector, and this month we highlight our favourite, cutting-edge initiatives of 2022...those which we believe will have the biggest impact in care and dementia environments, and some which will undoubtedly ad...

This month our guest is a pioneer in Clinical Sociology, Dr.  Christopher Johnson of Texas State University in the United States. Listen and discover why Alzheimer’s disease is not a linear decline but a series of ‘time loops’ and how we can design spaces which respect the individuality of each resident. Guest: Dr Christopher Johnson Texas State University - MS in Dementia and Ageing Studies Dr. C...

While TAD shares information to improve senior environments via our podcast, this month’s focus is with a team who facilitate global in-person learning. Join us to discover unique lessons from around the world via the unique Sage Tours programme out of Australia. Guests: Judy Martin and Chris Straw, Thomson Adsett Sage Tours National Care Forum UK Care England Global Ageing Network European Associ...

There’s a buzz about Co-housing in the media in several countries, but what exactly does this model really deliver for Seniors?  If you are involved in any type Senior Living or Care facility, this interview will challenge pre-conceptions and suggest considerations which offer lifestyle advantages worth serious consideration. This month's resources: Guest: Yonas Jongkind, of Amisto Windsong C...

Buildings need to be designed with a purpose in mind, but the people using them also need purpose. In this episode, the Founder and CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, Colin Milner, joins Lori to review health, wellbeing, and purpose in senior living...and how we can facilitate these goals in the environments we design. This month's resources: Guest: Colin Milner, CEO of the Int...

The design of senior living environments is changing and more stakeholders are involved in their development. Expert designer, Melinda Avila-Torio, from THW Design in Atlanta, Georgia, shares her tips for bringing this diverse team together in addition to reviewing intergenerational "campus" concepts which can touch an entire community.  Guest: Melinda Avila-Torio, Associate Principal/Senior...

What is it like to be a sole carer for someone diagnosed with dementia?  This month, Third Age Design breaks away from our usual format for a special edition, in which a full-time, at-home carer in the United States reflects on her altered life and relationship, with additional comments from Clinics Admiral Nurse, Sheridan Coker, in the United Kingdom. This issue knows no national boundaries....