Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
Vanities and Mirrors
The mirror should meet the sink or a
splashguard at the back of the sink
counter. Such designs will improve
clean up. The countertop should
have rounded rather than sharp
edges.
6. Doorway Criteria
The clear width of the toilet room
entrance needs to accommodate staff
movement from behind the resident to a
safe footwork zone for transfer. This
Figure 3.9
typically requires openings that are
Wide Opening to Resident Toilet Room
wider, to yield to both resident and staff.
The Highlands, Wyomissing, PA
Clear openings of 4' [1219 mm] or more
allow sufficient space for elbows,
Sliding doors tend to facilitate resident
especially when a direct entry is unlikely
use. (See Figure 3.9) Solid doors that
due to the encumbrance of vestibule
swing toward the resident conflict with
walls. A 32" [813 mm] clear opening is
lower extremities and wheelchair
typically insufficient. The average
movement; doors that swing away from
wheelchair, if correctly aligned, may be
the person are difficult to reach and
pushed through a clear opening of 32"
control.
[813 mm] as required by the ADA. The
necessary opening should permit
To develop clear openings of 4' [1219
realistic routes of a self-propelled or
mm] or more, secure and sturdy,
assisted resident from a bed or hall,
surface-mounted sliding or folding doors
which may involve a sweeping turn or
may be used. Such doors should have
less than perfect alignment. It is
emergency access features. It should
preferable that typical resident toilet
be possible for toilet room doors to be
rooms should have only one entry to
opened to provide assistance for a
respond to privacy needs and problems
resident who has fallen or might be
of intrusion.
wedged against the door. Sliding the
door on the outside of the bathroom
In an open position, the resident
may be preferable to interior or "in-wall"
bedroom door should not cover or
sliding or pocket doors. In-swinging
impede access to the entry of the
doors may be used only if reverse-
resident bedroom toilet.
swinging safety latches are provided.
Sliding doors should open against a
length of clear wall space sufficient to
stack the width of the door. Hollow,
paneled sliding doors are preferable due
to their stability and weight.
Office of Facilities Management
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