FUNCTIONAL INTERIORS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS 4(2+2)

Lesson 30 : Functional Interior Options for Continuing Care & Nursing Care Environment

Design Criteria

The design problems unique are this facility mainly involves the nursing units and supportive facilities that are required in terms of the patient population. The other problems as dietary, mechanical maintenance, storage facilities are fairly uniform and have a basic similarity to medical facilities of hospitals. Because the patient population cannot be determined beforehand a lot of flexibility in design and arrangement is essential.

The design of a typical CCE is concerned with

• the relationship of area size to the daily census in the facility
• the analysis of these areas in terms of the different functions
• the criteria used in discerning the unit layout and supportive facilities

In an overall sense the design of all CCEs should contain the following

Administrative facilities

A business office, a lobby and information center, an administrators office, an admitting and medical records center, nurses area, social service office etc., form the administrative facilities.

Staff facilities

The staff are determined by the patient population and the facilities required for them are locker/storage rooms, toilets and dining room. Those should be grouped in a separate area and / or distributed in different floors.

Public facilities

These facilities are determined by the number of visitors. Those include public parking, personal grooming facilities, a snack and a gift shop.

Medical, treatment & morgue facilities

These are provided to the minimum and on the patient population.

Dietary facilities

The dietary requirements, and the space and equipment required to support them are extensive.

Storage facilities

Storage for the patients’ belongings, hospital equipment, staff requirements and house keeping equipment and supplies is essential.

Work and maintenance areas

This is the area for housing the medical and other treatment related equipment.

Structural and mechanical factors

The facilities like, fire safety equipment, smoke detectors, fire resistant flooring and building materials are essential.

1. Lighting levels required for the elderly patients who have reduced sensory awareness and perception. All electric lamps and fixtures should be firmly connected to a surface to avoid tipping & tripping.
2. Heating and cooling: according to the external atmosphere are essential.
3. Ventilation: is very essential to dispel odors. The surface materials that do not retain odors and the use of plumbing and furniture that allow for easy mopping and cleaning are essential.

Circulation patterns

Good circulation patterns both for the patients, visitors and staffs are essential. One special problem is the need of adequate control for the circulation of the behaviourally difficult patient.

Supportive & rehabilitative facilities

These services should be both physical and behavioural therapeutic processes. Recreational spaces are also needed for the inmates. However the most important aspect is the development of a community within the CCE. In term of architectural configurations, spaces for this activity have been arranged so that sleeping rooms open directly into living rooms.
The space planning, programming and arrangement should be based on the kind of hardware the patient’s use, types of furniture and beds that allow easy access etc. An institutional form of interiors should be avoided.