FUNCTIONAL INTERIORS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS 4(2+2)

Lesson 31 : Design Criteria for Nursing Homes

Accessibility

Many residents may be ambulatory to varying degrees, but will require the assistance of canes, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs. To accommodate these residents, all spaces used by them, both inside and out, should:

• Comply with the requirements of the Disabilities Acts specially if government funded or owned .
• Be designed so that all spaces, furnishings, and equipment, including storage units and operable windows, are easily usable by residents in wheelchairs
• Be equipped with grab bars in all appropriate locations
• Be free of tripping hazards
• Be located on one floor if feasible, preferably at grade. If residents' bedrooms must be located on more than one floor, then dining space must be apportioned among those floors, not centralized