Care and Service Programs in Resident Home Areas
Special Care Unit
One of the Resident Home
Areas (RHAs) at ground level is designated as a Special Care Unit
for residents with dementia. This is a secure unit with access
to a landscaped outdoor space at grade as described under Outdoor
Space. The design of the unit provides a homelike and
safe environment. Corridors have looped ends to reduce the
frustration caused by dead-ends. Wayfinding is made easier
through visual cues at the various arrival points in the corridor
system. Staff carry pagers to eliminate the noise and confusion
of bells and intercom paging.
RHA's on Upper Levels
The other seven RHA's
on the upper levels provide services to a mix of residents.
All of the RHA's incorporate
design features that contribute to a homelike atmosphere and enhance
the residents' sense of comfort and well-being.
The layout of resident rooms provides maximum privacy for each resident even in the basic (standard) rooms; each resident has a window and a separate defined space. This will allow many services to be provided in residents' rooms. Each RHA is independent
and free of general building traffic, serving only the residents
of that RHA. All service radiates from a central core, with
elevators taking the vertical traffic. Each RHA has its own
nursing work space, medication room, and all-purpose meeting room
that can be used for counseling, family meetings, staff meetings,
etc. Each nursing workspace has an adjacent washroom.
Clean and soiled utility rooms open onto the corridor leading to
the core area. This ensures entrances are not directly across
from resident areas. Dining and lounge areas abut each other
to allow residents to congregate before and after meals if they
desire. The central location of the Servery allows direct
service to the dining room.
Wall colours are muted
to reduce overstimulation while being residential in nature.
The use of blinds, wainscotting, plants and artwork further enhances
the residential feeling. Lighting is enhanced to compensate
for failing eyesight and contrasting colours used to define handrails,
entrances, paths of travel, furniture etc., so that the residents
can move about with as much independence as possible.
Handrails are provided
on both sides of corridors and wherever else they are needed to
assist residents to move about. Doors to rooms have lever
handles.
All bathing and shower
rooms have a homelike atmosphere created by the use of coloured
towels, attractive privacy curtains, plants and accessories.
Colour finishes are done in warm tones so that residents will not
feel "cold", and with contrasting colours so that residents can
clearly and easily distinguish differences. The facility will
be maintained at 22 degrees Celsius.
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