Healthcare Design - April 2018 - 44

Large windows in the patient rooms at The Villages
Regional Hospital provide
access to natural light,
which helps reduce stress
and maintain circadian
rhythms.

By considering such characteristics and looking at spaces through the eyes of an older patient, owners and their project teams can better
identify appropriate, senior-friendly designs
that will ensure hospital settings are primed
for baby boomers' arrival. From the front door
to the inpatient unit, experts offer solutions to
consider.
From the overall layout of a campus to the design of the main entrance, there are many ways
to reduce seniors' stress before they've entered
the hospital. Wayfinding must begin in the parking lot, Burnette says, with parking areas clearly
indicating where ADA-compliant ramps are located. Lot signage should be easy to read at night
and include clear navigation that complements
hospital-provided patient information.
To ease the way for those who use assistive devices, stairs between parking lots and adjacent
buildings should be avoided and benches should
be located along sidewalks to provide opportunities for rest.
A human encounter at the building entry is
ideal, too, says Tom Bauman, interior designer at
ESa who worked on The Villages project. "Good
signage is important, but seniors really want a
person to greet them and be available to answer
questions or help them navigate to the right location." A greeter station provides an immediate
opportunity for patients to ask questions, but it's
important to keep the footprint to a minimum
and not to set it behind an imposing glass panel,
which can prohibit the up-close-and-personal
approach that seniors desire, he adds.
Senior acute care is often a uniquely "family
affair," where family members who are part of

the older person's care team will expect to be involved in the process,
says Jason Harper, principal at Perkins Eastman (New York). "Seniorfriendly settings need social and family support to be built into the environment." For example, he says, waiting rooms should feel as homelike as possible with special focus on seating, lighting, and acoustics.
"Hospitals can feel alien and add to an older patient's disorientation
and agitation."
Seating is another crucial element to consider. Bauman suggests arranging seats in small clusters and avoiding "bus station seating" in long
rows, which can impede communication for those with hearing loss.
Chairs should be comfortable yet have sturdy arms to accommodate elderly visitors who may have difficulty with the deep cushions of a couch.
To answer the critical need for access to daylight to reduce stress, aid in
healing, and maintain circadian rhythm, designers at The Villages added
visitor day rooms at the ends of department corridors that feature abundant windows. If natural light isn't available, table lamps, wall sconces
or cove lighting in warm hues can help brighten spaces. Indirect, evenly
distributed lighting is best, says Amy Carpenter, senior designer and vice

HCDMAGAZINE.COM

WA I T I N G

APRIL 2018

The University Hospitals
Seidman Cancer Center
Breen Breast Health
Pavilion in Cleveland was
designed with seniors
in mind. The waiting
room features clustered
seating arrangements
that allow families to sit
close together and chairs
with sturdy arms that are
easier for elderly visitors
to use.

COURTESY OF EARL SWENSSON ASSOCIATES (TOP); COURTESY OF PERSPECTUS ARCHITECTURE, PHOTO BY SCOTT PEASE (LEFT)

T H E A R R I VA L

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Healthcare Design - April 2018

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