Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
Foreword
The Nursing Home Design Guide 2006 signals a significant change in VA's approach to
the environment of care for Long Term Care residents. It is an extremely important
addition to the series of Design Guides for various elements of the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities produced by the Office of Facilities
Management. This excellence was achieved with the indispensable input of: Lorraine
G. Hiatt, Ph.D.; Martin Cohen, FAIA; Christa M. Hojlo, DNSc; and Dennis Hancher, RA.
They gave countless unstinting effort to the creation of this document which signals the
transformation of the culture of care in VA, discussed by Dr. Hojlo in the Introduction.
Their extensive experience in this subject, supplemented by traveling to look at and
meet with staff and residents at VA, State, and private sector Nursing Homes across the
country, was further assisted by the experts in the Nursing Home Design Advisory
Group and the consulting services of EBA Ernest Bland Associates, P.C.
This volume is meant to be a guide, not a code or regulation. It reflects the best
practices of care and supporting facility design concepts for creating functional,
pleasing, nurturing, and efficient environments for those veterans who reside in VA or
State sponsored Nursing Homes, as well as for those who serve and honor the
residents.
The drawings illustrate possibilities, meant to allow deviation, not always to be copied
without variation. Although the guide illustrates some double room layouts, it is VA's
strong preference to create only single bedrooms, except for special requirements. The
dignity, privacy, and special needs of the individual residents must be paramount.
Those who have served the Nation will live in these buildings, perhaps for the remainder
of their lives, and deserve no less.
Lloyd H. Siegel, FAIA
Office of Facilities Management
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