Third Age Design

This short series looks at the rise of Senior Co-Housing with Patrick Devlin, the architect who designed the first UK example, the much studied New Ground project in North London. In Part 2 our focus is on ‘lessons learned’ and how the project has evolved in the decade since it launched and gained global attention.Visit the Third Age Design website to learn more about making life better for seniors!

Articles, books and documentaries abound on the subject of Senior CoHousing. The Third Age Design team wanted to know more about how these communities take shape, and to understand how the lessons learned from them might benefit later living in general. This month’s episode is Part One of: "What’s the Deal with Senior CoHousing?" Patrick Devlin, consultant at Pollard Thomas Edwards (London) and the architect behind the very first CoHousing project in the UK, joins Lori to talk about how it all began.

Operators can think of gardens or outdoor spaces as something for Residents to enjoy in warm summer months, but our guest this month has been turning this concept on its head. BALI accredited garden designer and author, Debbie Carroll, of Step-Change Design joins Lori for an in-depth discussion on how care culture can either inhibit or help to engage Residents in the biophilic ‘wins’ of the natural environment all year long.

As our understanding of the importance of biophilia in wellbeing increases, gardens and the way in which they are designed to support elders, including people living with dementia, has become a key topic of study. Lori speaks with award-winning garden designer, Tina Worboys, about her work with the Alzheimer’s Society and the ‘Microbes & Minds Garden’ at the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. The Innovation Spotlight stays in the biophilia realm as we highlight a new concept in support grab rails made from natural timbers.

Those who support people who are living with dementia can become used to the way the condition is "managed" in our own countries, with a major impact on the people relying on us for care, the staff, family members, facilities and more. How do we safely challenge these fixed ideas to see what might support a better quality of life? International dementia advocate, Dr. Cecilia Chan, our guest this month. She gives us some great examples of how challenging norms and assumptions can lead to better care .

The direction of design for older people is currently centred on wellness and the impact of biophilic design. In Part 2 of our look at the relationship between biophilia and wellness, host Lori Pinkerton-Rolet is joined by specialists from Nottingham Trent University (UK) during their in-depth study on this topic, this time with a focus on establishing the personal preferences of care home research subjects and what each guest found most surprising from the results thus far. 

The direction of design for older people is currently centred on wellness and the impact of biophilic design. What scientific proof exists that these environments are vital for well-being, and how can this be tested in a robust and objective way? In Part 1 on this topic, Lori talks to three academic specialists from Nottingham Trent University, in the United Kingdom, amid their in-depth study of the subject, including the protocols required to work directly with people in a care setting, and the use of AI and other technologies they have employed to assist.

This month we feature an episode from the Third Age Design archives, a Best of TAD favourite which was based on substantial research that indicates pets have important health benefits including: improved mood, lower blood pressure, increased exercise rates and a reduction in stress. But...in senior living, do these benefits outweigh any risks, and how might these be reduced by getting both the offer and the environment itself absolutely correct? Join Lori and three expert guests from the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom to learn more about this impactful but seldom-discussed topic.

According to Alzheimer’s UK, the number of people living with dementia is set to increase from an estimated 57 million back in 2019 to 153 million by 2050. Let’s fight back! Join Lori and her guest Dr. Rob Winningham, professor in psychological science and in gerontology at Western Oregon University, as they discuss essential information on brain health in later life. We don’t ignore the body either, as our Innovation Spotlight guest Chris Zdenek of Soma discusses how posture affects overall health.

In 2025 alone, global losses from fraud have been estimated at between 442 and 534 billion US dollars. Many schemes specifically target older people, who are often more trusting, while at the same time less technologically adept. To protect yourself - and seniors for whom you have any responsibility - listen to this episode's conversation between Lori and Joan Campbell, a retired Police Officer and Maricopa County Community Affairs Coordinator in the US, who shares her top prevention tips…and a few cautionary tales.For links to the resources named in this and past episodes, head over to our podcast page at ⁠ThirdAge.Design⁠.While you're there, be sure to hit the Join Us! button to become part of our community and benefit from sharing essential information on senior environments...along with exclusive content!