Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
3.2.4 Interior Considerations
Appropriately dispose of linen and
waste with minimal travel to central
1. Lighting
unit areas.
Large, diffused lights, rather than point
Identify and resolve the source of
illumination sources, are recommended.
foul odors. It is not acceptable to
Lighting for grooming at sinks should be
mask odors that indicate underlying
600 lumens or 60 foot candles, with
health problems. Avoid the following
overall room illumination at a minimum
conditions:
of 300 lumens and 30 foot candles.
─ Hydrophilic floor surfaces such
as ceramics and some
Lighting levels for the shower should
installations of vinyl composition
achieve a minimum of 300 lumens or
tile (VCT) tend to absorb foul
30 foot candles.
substances and release odorous
For skin care tasks, preferred levels
bi-products from microbial
should be 600 lumens and 60 foot
growth. It is advised to seal
candles.
floors with an appropriate
Consider a vapor proof fixture to
polymer prior to applying VCT to
illuminate the shower.
reduce odor problems.
Night light should be provided to
─ Grout or other labor-intensive
draw attention to the location of the
hydrophilic or heavily creviced
toilet room and should be shaded by
surfaces must be maintained by
using louvers.
deep cleaning to reduce dried
Non-glare, matte finishes should be
matter and mitigate odors.
used in the bathroom to diffuse
Appropriate fixtures and finishes to
reflected light.
encourage efficiency:
Natural lighting should be maximized
─ Continuous surfaces and durable
wherever possible.
wall treatments tend to be easier
to maintain providing that there is
2. Housekeeping
one floor surface for toilet room
The following guidelines address proper
and a shower.
facility upkeep.
─ Changes in finishes typically
Toilet room cleaning may be
require distinct cleaning
hindered by:
techniques or chemicals.
─ Fixtures and finishes that trap
─ Staff should not need to kneel to
soil
clean bathrooms.
─ Toilets that do not completely
flush
3. Storage and Materials Management
─ Toilets that are floor-mounted
Storage should be provided for each
rather than wall-hung
resident's grooming items and care
─ Toilet rooms lacking
products. If the toilet room is shared,
appropriately designed floor
individual and separate storage should
drains
be provided for these grooming items.
─ Undersized toilet rooms, which
Storage may be located in the toilet
result in more floor clean-up
room or in another location such as in a
basket kept in each resident's wardrobe.
Office of Facilities Management
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