Third Age Design

Lori Pinkerton Rolet

A half-hour monthly podcast featuring international researchers, design practitioners and operators sharing information to inform design criteria for care, retirement and dementia facilities. You won’t want to miss each episode’s ‘Innovation Spotlight!’ Visit us at ThirdAge.Design to learn more and to join the community.

  1. Jun 4

    Biophilic Patterns & Stimuli in Senior Wellbeing, part 2

    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.

    34 min

  2. May 4

    Biophilic Patterns & Stimuli in Senior Wellbeing

    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.

    34 min

  3. Apr 4

    The Best of TAD: Pets in Care, Dementia and Retirement Living

    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.

    55 min

  4. Mar 4

    Supporting Better Brain Health in Later Life

    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.

    49 min

  5. Feb 4

    From Sweepstakes to Tech Support: How Scammers Target Seniors

    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!

    35 min

  6. Jan 4

    The Wellness Interior Design Audit (WIDA)

    We start our 6th season with an interview in which our host is actually our guest! TAD Marketing Director, Valerie Adler, talks to Lori about the importance of “Wellness” as a concept, and the launch of the Wellness Interior Design Audit (WIDA). Wellness should be more than just a marketing phrase. The audit, a result of a year of research and peer-reviewed by a panel of sector experts, is a self-assessment whose results will help you make modifications to your facility that can genuinely (and sometimes dramatically) improve wellness for residents, staff and guests.

    30 min

  7. 12/04/2025

    Lighting for Seniors: Surprising Things You Might Not Know!

    Lighting is a integral part of designing any interior space, but it takes on added significance in situations where older people may not go out as often as they might have when they were younger. In this episode, Kam Dhatt, an international expert in circadian lighting, joins Lori for a discussion that touches on his research into chronobiology and the neuroscience of light. Even if you think you understand the science behind circadian lighting, we promise you: there’s a lot here you will never before have considered! This month’s Innovation Spotlight shines this month on Inclusive Design products from the German manufacturer HEWI for bath and shower rooms.

    44 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    How To Assess What Tech You Need - Part 2

    In Part 2 of Lori’s interview with Geraint Thomas, of Guided Innovation, we learn about what we should expect AI to do, and what we shouldn’t let it near...as well as a potential future for the use of driverless cars for staff members and much, much more. Geraint has chosen this month’s ‘Innovation Spotlight’ for us, too, and it relates to an interesting new direction in technology for senior living which we’ve never even heard of before!

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A half-hour monthly podcast featuring international researchers, design practitioners and operators sharing information to inform design criteria for care, retirement and dementia facilities. You won’t want to miss each episode’s ‘Innovation Spotlight!’ Visit us at ThirdAge.Design to learn more and to join the community.

Information

  • Creator
    Lori Pinkerton Rolet
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lori Pinkerton Rolet
  • Show Website
    Third Age Design