Redefining Senior Care Environments: The Future of PACE Design
Overview: FS Design Group Principal Amy Tobia shared insights on the future of PACE facility interior design at the 2025 Environments for Aging Conference. Her session emphasized integrating hospitality elements into senior healthcare spaces to create environments that foster wellness, connection and cultural belonging. By focusing on whole-person care and thoughtful details such as acoustics, wayfinding and community-inspired finishes, FS Design Group is helping redefine how seniors experience care and community.
At the 2025 Environments for Aging Conference + Expo, FS Design Group Principal Amy Tobia and Center for Elders’ Independence President and CEO Maria Zamora shared their visions for the future of Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) facilities. Their session, “Designing Welcoming PACE Facilities: Integrating Hospitality Trends into Senior Healthcare Environments,” underscored how design can reshape the way seniors experience care and community.
How Has PACE Interior Design Evolved?
Over the past three decades, PACE facilities have grown from clinic-style settings into vibrant community hubs, Amy explained during their presentation on April 29, in Lexington, Kentucky. Amy noted that the most successful models today are not extensions of medical offices but rather destinations where seniors want to gather. These environments now balance comprehensive healthcare services with spaces that foster social connection, belonging and joy.
This evolution reflects a broader truth about healthcare design: Participants thrive when environments feel less like institutions and more like community living rooms. That shift requires design leaders to approach projects holistically — considering culture, community and lifestyle alongside clinical needs.
Designing PACE Facilities for Belonging and Longevity
Amy’s philosophy is clear: design must serve the “whole person.” That means creating spaces that not only deliver medical care but also support emotional well-being and social vitality. From community dining spaces and arts areas to gyms and therapy rooms, every design choice must reinforce wellness and connection.
But thoughtful design is not just about programming — details matter. Amy highlighted strategies such as acoustic art installations, intuitive wayfinding and culturally inspired finishes that simultaneously meet healthcare requirements and enrich the participant’s experience. These design details can directly influence health outcomes by helping to reduce stress, improve comfort and even encourage seniors to engage more fully in daily activities.
The Broader Role of Interior Design in Senior Care
“People are understanding more and more about how the built environment can positively affect how we live longer, happier healthier lives,” she shared in a Q&A published in the Environments for Aging Conference + Expo Show Preview.
Amy’s perspective positions interior design not as an afterthought but as a critical component of senior care delivery. As demographics shift and senior populations become more diverse, FS Design Group continues to champion flexible, inclusive and human-centered approaches that anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.
Ready to reimagine your healthcare environment? Connect with FS Design Group to explore how thoughtful, community-centered design can elevate care for your patients, participants and staff.
Additional Reading
- Amy and Maria’s presentation slide deck is packed with visuals showcasing PACE interior design
- FS Design Group Helps Bring Three New CEI PACE Centers to Life in the East Bay
- Infusing Culture and Care into PACE Center Interior Design
