520
Detailed Needs and Requirements: Nursing Home Care Unit
526.1.5
Trends
The future of nursing home care units in the "nursing tower" is unclear.
Currently, most units are being constructed as detached facilities.
As the standard of living increases and medical knowledge expands, the
total number of elderly persons will increase, thus expanding need. It is
not necessarily true, however, that the required number of V.A. nursing
home care beds will expand in proportion.
As knowledge concerning the diseases of old age develops, the nursing
home care unit program may expand and the unit itself become a center
for intensive diagnosis and treatment. In this event, the relationship with
other hospital units may become an important determinant in the location
of nursing home care units within the hospital.
526.2
FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
526.2.1
Functional Requirements
No critical relationships exist. Convenient access to physical and
occupational therapy is desirable. Outdoor recreation space adjacent to
the unit would contribute to therapy programs.
526.2.2
Space Requirements
1. Patient Rooms
Bedrooms should respond to patients' physical and psychological
requirements. Furnishing, colors and textures should resemble
residential environments. Personal effects such as pictures, flowers,
and cards should be encouraged.
In multi-bedrooms, patients must be able to read, write or conduct
other quiet activities without disturbing other patients. The capability of
converting the bedroom into a sitting room would conceivably be
utilized by many patients.
Where possible, toilet and bathing facilities should be designed to
promote dignity and independence. Private compartments for personal
effects in shared bathrooms are desirable.
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