How Senior Living Communities Are Designed: From Large Campuses to Cottage-Style Living

More than half of homes across the country, close to 60%, were never built with features that support aging in place: no grab bars, no step-free entries, no bedroom on the main floor.

Roughly 4 million older households, about 11%, report real trouble getting around their own home, a share that climbs to nearly 1 in 4 once a resident turns 85.

For many families, moving into a home already designed for this stage of life ends up simpler, and often more cost-effective, than retrofitting the one they have. Understanding the different types of senior living community designs makes the search much less overwhelming.

The Large Campus Model

Continuing care campuses are built for scale, and these communities often span dozens of acres, connecting:

• Independent living
• Assisted living
• Memory care
• Skilled nursing

That scale comes at a cost. Entrance fees average around $300,000 on top of ongoing monthly costs, and that upfront price has climbed more than 22% in five years.

What families typically weigh here:

• A large buy-in fee paid before moving in, often nonrefundable in part
• Long hallways or campus shuttles connecting buildings
• A full continuum of care available without ever changing addresses
• Amenities built for a large population, from theaters to multiple dining rooms

That level of commitment tends to appeal most to families who want every stage of care mapped out in advance, even if it means paying high costs today.

Small Residential Care Homes

Looking at how senior living communities are physically designed often starts with scale, and residential care homes sit at the smaller end of that spectrum. These communities convert a large house into a shared living space for a handful of residents, often six to 10.

The setting feels closer to a family home than an institution, with a much smaller team-to-resident ratio.

Trade-offs here tend to include:

• Limited amenities compared to larger communities, often just shared common areas
• A high level of personal attention from a small, consistent team
• Fewer specialized services on-site if medical needs become complex
• Easy walkability since everything sits within one modest floor plan

That smaller scale works well for families who value familiarity over amenities, though it can mean outgrowing the setting if care needs change significantly down the road.

Multistory Apartment Communities

Many senior living buildings in denser areas take the shape of a multistory apartment complex. Residents ride elevators between floors, and common spaces like dining or activity rooms usually sit on a shared ground level.

Considerations for this format include:

• Elevator dependence, which can add wait times during busy hours
• Efficient use of space, allowing more residents per building footprint
• Indoor corridors that keep residents out of the weather
• Limited private outdoor space attached to individual living spaces

This layout tends to suit families prioritizing convenience and a central location over private outdoor space, especially in areas where land is harder to come by.

Single-Story and Cottage-Style Communities

A growing number of communities spread living space horizontally instead of stacking it vertically.

Single-story independent living in Texas often takes the form of freestanding cottages or ground-level apartments arranged around shared walking paths, with direct outdoor access and no stairs or elevators.

This layout tends to offer:

• Ground-level entry from every home, with no elevator required
• More separation and privacy between neighboring residences
• Shorter walking distances to shared amenities on one level
• A layout that often includes private outdoor space like a porch or patio

For older adults considering independent living with age-in-place options, that combination of privacy and ease of movement makes this format worth a closer look before settling on a larger campus or a multistory building.

Cottage Life at Edition of Saginaw

Edition of Saginaw brings this cottage-style model to life for independent living residents. Each cottage includes a private front porch, a full kitchen, and laundry, arranged in a single-story layout with no stairs or elevators.

For families researching cottage-style independent living near Fort Worth, that mix of privacy and practicality often stands out early.

Mornings often start in the independent living clubhouse, where residents gather for a breakfast buffet before settling into conversation, games, or a quiet cup of coffee, a short walk from every front door.

Assisted living and memory care are also available on the same campus, housed in separate apartment-style buildings designed for those specific levels of support. These options sit alongside the cottages rather than within them, so families can plan for a change in support without leaving the community.

Frequently Asked Questions