For my senior interior studio project I have chosen to design a long term care nursing home that is an aging in place facility. A long-term care nursing home is a facility that is designed for patients who are not able to care for themselves and need constant supervision. These facilities are required to meet strict regulations set forth by the state department of public health. Traditionally they tend to feel more like a hospital than a home. Many different variations exist today for elderly living design models, each offering more innovative approaches. One source describes the term aging in place as "a philosophy as much as a concept that promotes independency and livability of all types of living environments. Properly applied, aging-in-place principles allow an individual to remain in an environment that he or she chooses."(1 Lawlor)
Through extensive research I have come to understand the tremendous need for these types of facilities in the present and soon to be future. Many of the sources that I came across pointed to the changes in social-economical factors for the tremendous spike in the elderly population. Decline in the birth rate is a direct result of the changes in today’s cultural society. The term “boomer” refers to the generation born following World War II, from 1946 through 1964. It is estimated that this generation “comprises nearly one quarter of the total U.S. population”.(3 Schriener) According to the U.S. Census Bureau dating July 2009, boomers numbered 77 million out of the total population.(3 Schriener) According to this statistical data, it is apparent that the boomer population is a dominating force in all aspects of the socio-economic market. Changes in health care policies are allowing more and more people access to medical treatment. All of these factors combined are clear indicators of the expected demand for facilities to better accommodate this population.
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| This diagram depicts the estimated increases in elderly population (in thousands) by age group |
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| This chart shows the frequency of assistance needs with particular daily activitie |
The physical changes that occur as a direct consequence of natural aging have a large impact on the designed environment. According to one source "The specific abilities, disabilities, limitations
and needs of individuals within the frail elderly population vary, and may range from lower assistance needs to more intensive needs. This variance in levels of assistance needed not only fluctuates from person to person, but through time as a particular person's condition may change from day to day or month to month, with short-term illness or infirmity, or as conditions develop or evolve."(2 Brummett) The elderly residents needs encompasses many physical needs in addition to emotional and psychological well-being.
I feel a genuine home environment, as opposed to a "home-like" environment will allow the residents to live with more independence, safety, and be better integrated into the community as a contributing member. A large part of my design solution will be focused on developing the essence of home for the residents in my facility, from the perspective of the community and from the perspective of each individual resident. Another important aspect of my project will be providing residents access to health and wellness facilities, such as therapeutic horticulture, physical therapy, etc.
(1) Lawlor, Drue, and Michael A. Thomas. Residential Design for Aging in Place. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2008. Print.
(2) Brummett, William J. The Essence of Home: Design Solutions for Assisted-living Housing. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1997. Print.
(3) Schriener, Judy, and Mike Kephart. Building for Boomers: Guide to Design and Construction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
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