Nursing Home Design Guide
2006
of the unit. Distances may range
when each staff member has the space
from 80' to 340'.
and resources necessary to respond to
Best Practices. "Interlocking" room
residents' needs and schedules.
design is included. These create
Residents should spend less time
waiting for assistance to get to social
short cuts and reduce gross area.
Lessons Learned. Several unit
areas.
configurations have led to caution
regarding the development of
Decentralized support facilities for
courtyard plans, race track units with
nursing assistants simplify
rooms grouped around a center
relationships and increase their time
service core and two single-loaded
with each resident. By clustering
corridors, and round units as these
residents, the flow in a typical day,
increase walking and complicate
including movement to and from
sight lines for night care.
dining and activities, can be
streamlined.
3. Resident Rooms Adjacent to Social
Areas
4. Flexible Communications
Residents should have a social
Clustering should respond to the efforts
destination directly available from their
of nursing assistants and nurses to
room(s). Spaces for social and other
overcome limitations of fixed, central call
activities should be inviting and
systems and utility hubs, to minimize
comfortable to encourage residents to
steps back and forth to manage the
get out of their rooms. (See Figure
systems. Flexible communication
3.19) These spaces should be nearby
systems are critical to the success of
and be designed and furnished in a
decentralization and they require linking
manner to provide way finding and
unit hardware through appropriate
comfort.
software design.
5. Nursing Assistants' Clusters
Support facilities clustered around one
nursing assistant may include the
following:
Facilities for clean linen, soiled linen
and supplies
Work space
Repeater center for call system
Figure 3.19
Computerized chart with controlled
access
Social Spaces Adjacent to Resident
Bedrooms
The Highlights at Wyomissing, PA;
6. Neighborhoods
SFCS Architects, Roanoke, VA
The following may be provided for
residents and shared by two or three
Staff should have work, storage and
nursing assistants:
communication facilities located near
their assigned resident rooms. Care is
Great room, den or social area
less fragmented and less "regimented"
Office of Facilities Management
3 - 35
Previous Page
