Case Study: Prestige Senior Living: Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Far Eastern University
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
Case Study: Prestige Senior Living
Image 1: An exterior view of Prestige Senior Living in Camas, Washington (Source: Prestige Care)
Urban Fabric of Camas

Camas, Washington is a small city that can be found in Clark County, in the
southwestern part of the state. It is situated on the outskirts of major towns such as Portland.
Camas is home to an expected total population of 27,371 people, being less dense in terms
of development and population, according to the results of a census that was carried out in
2022 by Census.gov. The town of Camas is distinguished by its varied topography, which
includes both flatlands and hills with gentle slopes. As is typical of the Pacific Northwest, the
area immediately adjacent to the lake is covered in verdant trees and plants. In spite of the
city's relatively small size, certain neighborhoods provide breathtaking vistas of the nearby
Washougal and Columbia rivers as well as Lacamas Lake.
COMIA_CRUZ_MANIGBAS_REYES
ARC 1502: URBAN DESIGN 2, SEC-1
AR.ANNA LORRAINE B, EVANGELISTA
Image 2: Satellite Image of Camas, Washington illustrating its proximity to Portland (Source: Google
Earth)
The majority of Camas is made up of residential neighborhoods, which include a
wide variety of human settlements such as single-family homes, townhouses, and apartment
complexes. Camas is a city that is primarily made up of residential communities. The
presence of tree-lined streets and a suburban atmosphere can be found in a great number of
residential neighborhoods. The city of Camas places a high importance on ensuring that its
residents have access to parks and other types of green open space. Lacamas Park is
notable for being both one of the largest and the most well-known of these parks. The park
provides visitors with chances for engaging in a variety of water-based recreational pursuits,
as well as hiking paths, picnic spots, and other amenities. This results in an abundance of
leisurely enjoyment opportunities.
The business district is lined with commercial strips with well-preserved brick
buildings that show the town's distinct history. The downtown area features a wide variety of
locally owned establishments, including restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops. In many
cases, it takes on the role of the city's cultural and commercial epicenter. The urban
configuration of Camas exhibits a combination of a well-organized grid pattern in the central
business districts, while the suburban dwellings located further away from commercial
centers adopt a more organic layout that conforms to the natural topography, especially in
areas defined by dense vegetation.
Image 3: Satellite Image of Camas, Washington showing the contrast in architectural identity of
Residential and Commercial areas (Source: Google Earth)
Image 4: Satellite Image of Camas, Washington showing the difference in layout pattern of the
downtown area vs suburban (Source: Google Earth)
Age Friendliness of the area
Seniors have similar needs due to their old age and this typically revolves around
providing services that can help seniors feel relaxed and at ease, while at the same time
giving them activities that will keep them active and healthy (providing nutritional foods and
encouraging them to exercise). Being relaxed and healthy is something that all seniors need.
However, seniors’ needs can also vary since some of them still have a body
constitution that allows them to live independently. Some of them would need some
assistance, and the others may need special assistance especially those who have
Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and some have undergone surgeries or treatments from
hospitals.
Prestige Senior Living considered these factors in the provision of services which are
classified into four based on their website:
● Independent Living – for those who can still do everyday tasks such as “dressing,
hygiene, and personal care”
● Assisted Living - for residents that may need assistance on doing activities such as
getting dressed, taking care of their hygiene, managing their medications and could
have “suffered from a fall, experienced cognitive decline, has immediate health and
safety concerns, and needs more enrichment.”
● Memory Care - for residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,
dementia, or memory loss that affects their capability to do everyday activities
● Skilled nursing and rehabilitation - for residents that are recovering from the hospital
after experiencing injuries, surgeries, or illness
For Independent Living, Prestige Senior Living’s approach revolved around how to
give the residents a “choice”. They can access amenities and services provided in the
nursing home and it’s up to them which activities they want to do and what they want to eat.
The facility helps the seniors feel relaxed since they won’t have to worry about the work
around the house such as “maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping.”
This is done by providing the elderly all the homewares they’ll need which includes a
“full kitchen” in their respective apartments in case they want to cook, however they also
have a choice to eat at the facility’s dining room where the quality of the meals is
comparable to that of a restaurant’s. Seniors were also given a wide variety of activities and
events to choose from which include “car parades, fashion shows, programs for fitness and
style, Wii bowling, Bingo, webinars, or even going out of the town to go shopping or explore
other activities on their schedule.”
They can also participate in the facility’s Wellness Program known as “Celebrations”
that promotes the residents’ wellness and lifestyle. The activities include “Fall Reduction
Classes, Ageless Grace®, Energize Exercise, Mind Masters, and Personal Training.” Each
one of these have different goals which include promoting the residents’ safety, longevity,
health and fitness, and cognitive function. Shown on Figure 2 is a calendar for this month’s
activities that the elderly can participate on:
Image 5. Activities for September 2023 under the “Celebrations” program of Prestige Senior Living
On the other hand, services and amenities for residents that need “Assisted Living”
comprise the same services as that of those in Independent Living, but with additional
provisions since they need more assistance. Aside from assistance in cooking, cleaning, and
housekeeping and the provision of meals and events, Prestige Senior Living also takes care
of the transportation of the residents who need to attend to their “medical appointments or
outings.”
While residents under “Memory Care” are provided with more amenities and services
due to their cognitive needs. These services range from the provision of caregivers,
“innovative care techniques and life enrichment activities” that promotes creativity, learning
and spirituality. The amenities provided for residents under “Memory Care” include meetings
with support groups, beauty salons, private dining and family rooms, and pet therapy.
Lastly, residents that need “Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation” are provided with
services and rehabilitation that are more inclined to their specific medical needs to help them
recover and so that complications can be prevented (Prestige Care, Inc. - Prestige Senior
Living, L.L.C., n.d.).
Attending to the elderly’s specific needs and wants is what makes Prestige Senior
Living an age-friendly place where seniors can live all together and enjoy their favorite
activities while being stress-free. Space requirements such as the adequately spaced dining
room, full kitchen on their apartments, private dining rooms, family rooms, living areas, etc.
makes attaining the services and providing the amenities possible. It also helps that they get
to socialize with other fellow seniors since that evokes a sense of community and
belongingness, and that the facility is not located far away from clinics and hospitals
(countymapsofwashington.com, n.d.).
Accessibility
Located at the east of Vancouver, Washington,
Prestige Senior Living Bridgewood is situated in a
beautiful park-like setting. It is an ideal option for
individuals who seek independent or assisted living
within the comforts of their homes paired with the
camaraderie of community-based living.
The Prestige Senior Living offers a range of

services and amenities to its tenants, and one of their
amenities is outdoor activities. Hiking and
bird-watching are part of their offered activities to the residents. These activities can be
offered to the residents since the roads on the site are easily accessed by the people even
those who have difficulty walking. The sidewalks have curb ramps before the site
entrance/opening. Including ramps in the sidewalks makes it usable for people who use
wheelchairs and for those who have difficulty walking.
The lot of the Prestige Senior Living is surrounded by streets with sidewalks which
makes it accessible to cars. However, the entrance to the site is only on one side of the lot.
The site is close to the major road which makes it easier for the people to access it from the
highway. The roads are smoothened with concrete which makes it easier for vehicles to
drive.
Aside from the accessibility to the site, the site’s accessibility to institutions is also
important to the senior residents in Prestige. The site is accessible to five hospitals and
medical centers that have a distance of 1.7 to 7.3 miles away from the site. Pharmacies and
dentists are also near and accessible from the site with an average of 2.44 miles and 0.74
miles respectively. Supermarkets/markets are also accessible from the site with an average
distance of 1.06 miles. Prestige Senior Living can be accessed via bus with five bus stations
near the site having Northeast 28th Street & 119th Avenue being the nearest with 0.1 miles
distance. Other than the activities, services, and amenities offered in the Prestige Senior
Living, the residents, and their families can also go to parks within the area. The site is also
accessible to places of worship, shopping, culture, and restaurants.
Walkability
Walkability is a significant factor in an environment as it creates a sense of

community in a certain place. According to Steuteville (2021), having a walkable place
improves happiness and mental health as well as promoting active living for longer and
better lives. In the context of a senior living community, walkability is essential for aging
individuals because active transportation and rigorous physical activity are critical for their
health, thus walking became their primary mode of mobility to transfer from place to place.
Prestige Senior Living in Camas is a rehabilitation center establishing a customized

treatment strategy with the aim of assisting patients to resume to their most important
activities. Located in Camas, Washington, the rehabilitation center is centered on two street
which has different rank of walkability (as shown in the figure below).
Image 8: Walkability Evaluation with Legend (Source: Aging in our Communities)
Image 9: Real-time Street Walkability Evaluation based on Aging in our Communities (Source: Google
Maps)
According to the walkability evaluation, the green shaded street indicates a good walkable
path, the yellow one indicates an average walkable pathway, while the red one indicates a
poor walkable path, the orange shaded area is ranging between good and average while the
yellow-green ranks between average and poor walkability.
The image below shows the area where good walkable pathways (green) are provided,
these streets are classified as good walkable path because it provides a sidewalk for
pedestrians to walk through with proper signages and pedestrian crossing as well as street
lighting.
Image 10: Good

walkable pathways
– Green shaded
area (Source:
Google Maps)
The orange shaded area (as shown in the images below) classifies between good to
average because although it has a proper sidewalk for pedestrians, there is a slight change
in elevation that makes it a sloping pathway that might be difficult, especially for elderly
people residing in the center, it also doesn’t have pedestrian crossings for people to walk
through.
Images 11 and 12: Good-average walkable pathways – Orange shaded area (Source: Google Maps)
The image shown below is the area where a poor walkable path is indicated (red shaded
area). It is classified as a poor walkable path because aside from having a narrow sidewalk,
it does not have road signages and pedestrian crossings for people to use. It also does not
have street lighting which might be hazardous for people, especially for senior citizens
residing in the rehabilitation center.
Image 13: Poor walkable pathways – Red shaded area (Source: Google Maps)
Recommendations and Strategies

To foster aging in the community, it is important to consider the quality of walkability
in the neighborhood. While Prestige was able to serve the elderly by providing them
amenities, services, and events to choose from, and by considering their similar and varying
needs, an area cannot be truly age-friendly if the site where it is located or the urban fabric
of the surroundings is not appropriate for seniors. Referring back to Image 9, the pathways
surrounding Prestige are not considered are not considered walkable, especially for Seniors.
While there are trees for shade and they can see interesting and relaxing sceneries while
walking, it could be improved through the provision of street furniture such as benches so
that seniors can sit down whenever they feel tired of walking, and wider sidewalks so that
they can walk comfortably and at the same time, their safety can be ensured.
REFERENCES
● My Caring Plan. (n.d.) Prestige Senior Living Bridgewood.
https://www.mycaringplan.com/senior-living/prestige-senior-living-bridgewood/
● Prestige Care, Inc. - Prestige Senior Living, L.L.C. (n.d.). Prestige Senior Living
Bridgewood.
https://www.prestigecare.com/locations/prestige-senior-living-bridgewood/
● Prestige Care, Inc. - Prestige Senior Living, L.L.C. (n.d.). Prestige Care and
Rehabilitation - Camas.
https://www.prestigecare.com/locations/prestige-care-and-rehabilitation-cama
s/
● Prestige Senior Living Bridgewood. countymapsofwashington.com. (n.d.).
https://countymapsofwashington.com/clark/assisted-living-nursing-homes/pre
stige-senior-living-bridgewood-wa/?fbclid=IwAR3t_7KxsoJ6LPp7xe3s9g9UL0
SSshZNOKzYAcf__od3G19QV_5Gyx9WVF8

Case Study: Prestige Senior Living: Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

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Case Study: Prestige Senior Living: Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

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Far Eastern University

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Case Study: Prestige Senior Living

Urban Fabric of Camas

Age Friendliness of the area

The Prestige Senior Living offers a range of

Walkability is a significant factor in an environment as it creates a sense of

Prestige Senior Living in Camas is a rehabilitation center establishing a customized

Image 8: Walkability Evaluation with Legend (Source: Aging in our Communities)

Image 10: Good

Recommendations and Strategies

● Prestige Senior Living Bridgewood. countymapsofwashington.com. (n.d.).

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