Your residents order more online every year: groceries, hobby supplies, gifts from family. Parcels arrive at a front desk that already has plenty to do, or wait in a hallway for residents who find the walk hard. If you run independent living, a retirement community or the residential side of a senior living campus, this page covers what package lockers must do to work for older residents.
Quick answer
- Reachable cells: put residents’ cells in the middle rows; keep accessible cells 15–48 inches above the floor where the 2010 ADA Standards apply.
- Simple codes: a numeric PIN works on a basic phone or a printed slip; QR codes are optional.
- Assisted collection: staff collect with a logged staff code; family members can receive notifications.
- Parcels, not medicines: follow pharmacy and clinical rules for medication.
- Price: see the rough price guide.
Designing for reach, grip and eyesight
| Consideration | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Reach | Residents’ cells in the middle rows. Accessible cells within the 15–48 inch (380–1220 mm) unobstructed reach range of the 2010 ADA Standards where they apply |
| Grip | Door pulls that open with one hand and little force; the standards’ operable-parts limit is 5 lbf where it applies |
| Sight | A touchscreen with large text and high contrast; good lighting over the bank |
| Floor space | Room in front for a walker or wheelchair, and a chair nearby if residents wait |
| Heavy parcels | Heavy items in waist-height cells or handed over by staff, not in the bottom row |
Which rules apply depends on the building and its use. The summary in our apartment locker guide lists the relevant sections; take advice from your accessibility consultant.
Codes residents can use
Not every resident uses a smartphone, and some find QR codes difficult. Offer:
- A numeric PIN by text message to any mobile phone.
- Email to a family member who passes the code on.
- A printed slip handed over by staff when a resident prefers it.
- Help at the screen: staff can open the cell with a staff code if a resident is stuck.
Keep the touchscreen steps short: enter PIN, door opens, take parcel, close door.
Assisted collection and family
Many residents rely on staff or family. Agree a written policy:
- Staff collection: a staff member opens the cell with their own code, which the locker logs, and delivers the parcel to the resident’s apartment.
- Family notifications: a resident can name a family member to receive the delivery message.
- Who may collect: residents decide who may collect on their behalf, and staff check before handing over.
The locker’s record of every opening helps settle questions if a parcel goes astray.
What lockers are not for
Senior living communities handle medication with care. Package lockers are a parcel service. Medication delivery, storage and hand-over follow your pharmacy’s requirements, your clinical procedures and local regulation, which may call for hand-to-hand delivery, identity checks or controlled temperatures. Do not route medication through the parcel lockers unless your pharmacy and regulator have approved the process. For temperature-controlled grocery deliveries, see refrigerated lockers.
Placement in a community building
- Near the main lobby or mailboxes, where residents already go each day.
- Short, level route from residents’ lifts, without steps.
- Seating nearby and good light.
- Inside the secured part of the building, with couriers let in through the delivery entrance or front desk.
Specification checklist
- Resident parcel counts for two weeks, with heavy items noted
- Cell layout with residents’ cells in the middle rows and accessible cells within reach range
- PIN by text as the default; printed slips available
- Staff-collection and family-notification policy in writing
- Medication handling kept outside the locker process
- Position near the mailboxes with seating and lighting
Where this is the wrong answer
- Most residents need hand-delivery anyway. In a community where staff deliver everything to apartments, a locker adds a step.
- No staff to help at the screen in the first weeks while residents learn it.
- Medication is the main delivery. That is a pharmacy process, not a parcel locker.
Rough price guide and quote
Communities usually need a modest bank with more cells in the middle rows; the ranges below apply.
A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand US dollars, roughly US$2,000–5,000. A 50–100-cell building system is roughly US$8,000–20,000. Software is a flat monthly fee of around US$100 per location, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Freight, duties and installation are extra, and your quote fixes the price.
Price enquiry · 1 minute
Get a quote for your building
Tell us roughly what you need and we reply with a cell layout, a drawing and a firm price. For the full form with cell sizes and options, use the price enquiry page.
Frequently asked questions
How high should package locker cells be for older residents?
Keep the cells residents use most between roughly waist and shoulder height, and make sure accessible cells sit within 15 to 48 inches above the floor, the unobstructed reach range in the 2010 ADA Standards where those standards apply. Use the top and bottom rows for overflow or staff use rather than for residents’ everyday parcels.
Do residents need a smartphone to use the lockers?
No. A resident can collect with a numeric PIN typed on the touchscreen. The PIN can be sent by text message to a basic phone, emailed to a family member, or printed and handed over by staff, depending on how your community prefers to work.
Can staff or family collect parcels for a resident?
Yes. Staff can open a cell with their own staff code, which is logged, and hand the parcel to the resident. A resident can also name a family member to receive the notification. Agree the rules in writing so residents know who may collect on their behalf.
Can package lockers be used for medication deliveries?
Do not plan on it. Medication delivery and storage are governed by pharmacy rules and your own clinical procedures, which may require hand-to-hand delivery, temperature control and identity checks. Treat the lockers as a parcel service and follow your pharmacy’s and regulator’s requirements for medicines.
What if a resident forgets their code?
Staff look up the parcel in the portal, confirm the resident’s identity, and open the cell with a staff code, which is logged. The resident can also ask for the notification to be sent again.
References
- US Department of Justice, ADA.gov — “2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design”, sections 308 (reach ranges) and 309.4 (operable parts) (accessed 3 October 2026). https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/2010-stds/
Related
- Parcel lockers: the product and how a delivery runs
- Small apartment building package lockers
- Apartment parcel locker sizing and accessibility
- Refrigerated lockers
