Planning and marketing a feasible wellness center by Cornelia C. Hodgson, AIA

Wellness centers in senior living communities are undergoing a fundamental change. Once primarily a place where residents could swim and take part in fitness classes, the wellness center has expanded significantly to include all dimensions of wellness—physical, social, emotional, spiritual, mental and vocational.

The services offered in total wellness centers have the power to markedly improve the quality of life for active aging adults. But before making the decision to add a wellness center to your community (or build a facility in another setting), it’s important to do the legwork. You need to find out not only if a center is financially feasible, but also what services and spaces it should provide to meet the specific desires of the people who will use the facility.