Safe, Happy and Together: Design ideas for minimising the spread of infection whilst nurturing social interaction in later living communities

This report by PRP Architects outlines a series of practical design recommendations to control the transmission of coronavirus, and other every day infections, in later-living housing whilst maintaining social interaction for residents. 

The document is intended to be a practical guide for designers, operators and developers refurbishing ageing later-living housing projects or considering new ones. It identifies thirteen specific areas that would require improvements in order to safeguard the mental and physical health of residents, and to enable staff to manage additional tasks that might be required of them during a pandemic.

Key recommendations include creating a separate entrance for staff and deliveries, additional storage for PPE, ventilators, sanitation equipment at all entrances and installing a traffic light system in the lobby to control movement in and out of the building or a ‘pop-up’ shelter in the entrance courtyard for supervised visits.