Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
opportunities for designers to create
For Residents
attractive, shared, common facilities
─ Improved outside access and
more possibilities for enjoying
located at short distance from each
unit. (See Figure 3.17)
natural stimuli.
Unit-to-Commons - Well-placed unit
─ Greater sense of security in
connections streamline service traffic
terms of evacuation.
associated with meal service and
─ Less reliance on elevators to
materials.
ease maneuvering and increase
Unit Organization Points to Distribute
attendance of off-unit programs.
Staff - The options are:
For Staff
─ On or Between Units
─ Less time spent off-unit for
─ Associated with a Particular Sub-
accompanying residents to
Population
therapy, programs, and care
─ Central to Units
appointments
Efficient Connections - Short
─ More convenient access from
connections or halls between units or
units to amenities such as
services and commons should be
therapy and activities
designed to include secondary
For Administration and Services
functions to avoid uninhibited
─ Use of a basement service level
stretches of halls and costly tunnels.
for linen collection at
neighborhood intersections
7. Single-Story Considerations
─ Use of golf carts and exterior
Veterans' facilities have made an
methods of circulation and
unusual commitment in Nursing Home
delivery
facility design to develop single-story
projects. (See Figure 3.16) Reasons
for favoring single story projects are:
Office of Facilities Management
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