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Nursing Home Design

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Hospitals are not the only healthcare facilities. Now due to various reasons in the U.S. population, government policy, technology and finance, we have ambulatory surgery centers, nursing homes, independent living facilities, imaging centers, mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, wellness centers, medical office complexes, urgent care centers and even stand-alone emergency rooms.

Select a healthcare facility type and discuss some of the design and construction considerations for it. What event do you believe has had the most effect on health care facility design? Why?

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Solution Summary

The solution discusses the Nursing Home Design and constructions for it.

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I have selected the Nursing Home as your building type. Firstly, let us look at key aspects of this type of building.
The majority of those who reside within nursing homes are seniors who require "preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative nursing care services for non-acute, long-term conditions." (Carr, 2011)
Nursing homes can be classified as either intermediate-care facilities or skilled nursing facilities, the latter providing more skilled and demanding medical support. This enables them to qualify for Medicare as well as Medicaid support.
Nursing homes needs to be designed as medical centres in a sense, and as homes. Since most residents reside there for the rest of their lives, it is imperative for nursing homes to respond to the residents' needs and desires and promote their well-being.

Design + Construction Considerations
Since nursing homes operate in a "patient-care" mode, the key characteristics that such a building needs to focus on, is the overall well-being of residents.
According to the Whole Building Guide, nursing homes need to have the following attributes to promote this well-being and comfort for residents.
- Accessibility - the entire building needs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act which basically gives design guidelines for furniture, fixtures, floors, and other architectural or interior elements. This is to ensure that they can be easily utilized by residents, especially if they are bound to a wheelchair, having poor sight etc., and do not pose a hazard for them in any way. You can read more about these standards here: http://www.ada.gov/

- Homelike and therapeutic environment - It is imperative that the building has a homelike feel, not one that seems like an institution or ...

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