Designing for Social Connection in Longevity Living

Through our Occupant Experience (OEX) Program, we return to completed buildings and connect with the people who live and work there to understand their experiences.

From its opening in 2023, Monarch Communities envisioned The Current South Shore, a 165-unit senior living community on Boston's South Shore, as a wellness-centered environment supporting residents, families, and staff. In June 2025, we launched a four-month post occupancy OEX study at The Current South Shore that focused on evaluating how well the design supports wellbeing. With the community nearing full occupancy, a post-occupancy offered a clear opportunity to measure whether the design was delivering on its intention.

Social connection emerged as the defining driver of resident wellbeing and a key contributor to occupancy, retention, and reputation.

Here is what we measured and what it means for design.

CAPTURING OCCUPANT EXPERIENCE

The study process included a walkthrough with the design team and community leadership, structured conversations with hospitality and caregiver staff, and direct engagement with residents, followed by a survey distributed across all three groups. We returned throughout the summer to support participation and came back in September to share findings and discuss their implications.

SOCIAL CONNECTION EMERGES AS THE STRONGEST WELLBEING INDICATOR

Across eight wellbeing dimensions, one stood apart. Seventy-six percent of all feedback referenced social connection, and ninety-four percent of those responses were positive. The finding aligns with a well-established body of research: strong social relationships are among the most powerful predictors of health and longevity. For older adults in particular, meaningful relationships support emotional resilience, cognitive health, and a sustained sense of purpose.

When we asked families how much a strong sense of community mattered in their decision to move in, nearly all called it essential. Many said that community—not care level, location, or amenities—was what finally moved them to leave a home they had lived in for decades and move into the Current.

DESIGNING FOR MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

At The Current, this balance is achieved through a blend of residential scale and community openness. Shared spaces feel like natural extensions of residents' homes, supporting both independence and connection.

Four design strategies emerged as making social connection possible.

1. Reducing Stigma Through Integration

A defining feature of the community is the seamless integration of independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Rather than separating levels of care, the design connects them—visually, spatially, and socially—with consistent aesthetics and shared amenities throughout. As one resident put it, "you don't know who is in which kind of care."

The impact on wellbeing is meaningful. We learned about friendships that persist after changes in care needs, family members living across different levels of care who share meals and activities, and independent residents volunteering in memory care, strengthening bonds across the community. Research suggests this approach also reduces stigma. When higher levels of care are visibly segregated, they can reinforce fear and social distance. By contrast, integrated environments can normalize care transitions and support continued participation in community life.

2. A Range of Spaces, Not a Single Solution

The challenge is designing environments where relationships can flourish naturally—and where participation never feels forced. At The Current, residents encounter a spectrum of spaces that support different levels of engagement. The central bar fills on Friday evenings for Singo (a song recognition version of bingo) with the open stairs drawing residents toward activity. Meanwhile, on the fifth floor, the Horizon Room offers soft seating and expansive views for those who want a quiet respite.

Even residents who are hesitant to engage socially do so on their own terms by observing, staying at the perimeter, and joining gradually. As Marlene Buckley Krukiel, the community's Life Enrichment Director, describes it, residents can "choose as much or as little engagement as they desire." Designing equally for introverts and extroverts lowers barriers for those most vulnerable to isolation. We heard that over time, the opportunity for small choices has led to greater involvement.

3. A Building Worth Showing Off

Residents consistently described The Current as beautiful, joyful, and light-filled. We learned how abundant natural light, thoughtful material choices, and a cohesive aesthetic makes residents excited to invite others in. Research shows that visitation frequency is strongly correlated with resident health outcomes. A building people want to show off is also a competitive advantage. The same qualities that make a community worth visiting strengthen referrals and supports leasing efforts.

4. Where Everybody Knows Your Name 

The Current has developed an organic culture of mutual support. Neighbors routinely look out for one another – inviting newcomers for dinner, walking a friend's dog while they're ill, or carrying up their mail. Residents also describe a place where staff know their names. During our conversations residents described the staff as "the best thing here." In an industry defined by high turnover, that kind of  loyalty is not incidental—it is a design outcome.

Here again, design plays a quiet but critical role in reinforcing social connection. A central, visible lobby and 24-hour concierge encourage lingering and casual encounters. Outdoor seating frames views of arrival and departure, turning everyday movement into opportunity. Flexible dining layouts support larger group gatherings. The spatial decisions that create visibility, proximity, and natural gathering help make this culture possible at scale.

HUMAN CENTERED. DATA DRIVEN.

Post-occupancy research is only as useful as what it changes. At The Current, the same study that documented the community's social strengths also surfaced specific areas for improvement — from shower details to staff respite spaces — findings that were brought directly back into conversation with Monarch Communities. Listening does not stop when the building opens. That discipline is what makes the evidence credible and what makes it useful.

These findings are already informing what comes next: intergenerational communities, models designed for the middle market, and environments where technology supports connection rather than replacing it. The evidence is still accumulating. But the direction is clear.

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