Senior living facilities house millions of residents across the country, and many families depend on them to care for them in their final years. Traditionally, these facilities have been modeled after hospitals, and many residents live in care facilities that bear a strong resemblance to medical centers. The new trend, however, is in design that makes these care facilities more comfortable for residents and more technologically advanced for staff.
More Patient Privacy
Traditionally, residents have been housed in rooms that are similar to those in hospitals. Semi-private rooms means that residents share close quarters with other residents and their visitors.
This can make living difficult, depriving seniors of their autonomy and privacy. The new trend is in single rooms that look more like home bedrooms than hospital rooms. Many nursing homes have replaced the communal bathroom and shower with individual private bathrooms, complete with vanities, shower and toilet. Designed for maximum mobility, these bathrooms allow residents to maintain their independence while ensuring their safety.
Noise Reduction Techniques
Ongoing beeping, intercom pages and incessant chatter can create a stressful environment for the nursing care resident. Facilities have responded to this by using soundproof tiles, carpeting and wood panels to mute and block out noise. They have also switched to silent paging systems and use window coverings that block out outside noise from traffic. These efforts promote better sleep and residents enjoy lower blood pressure and decreased levels of stress. Reduced noise also helps to create a better working environment for nursing and medical staff. Nursing homes are now using mobile devices to communicate with each other, eliminating the need for intrusive paging.
Home-Like Atmosphere
These rooms are designed with furniture that doubles as medical equipment. With wooden cabinets that hide supplies and storage under beds and behind walls, residents will enjoy spaces that are reminiscent of their personal homes. Patients with limited mobility no longer have to be confined to sterile, hospital-type metal beds. With beds made from decorative wood that matches the room’s decor, both residents and nursing staff enjoy the convenience of custom-tailored nursing home decor.
Bed manufacturers have developed a line of beds that offer a blend of function and fashion, allowing patients to enjoy beautiful and comfortable furnishings while getting the care they need. In addition, many new nursing facilities offer common spaces that allow for patient interaction and relaxation. Living room areas offer comfy couches, large screen televisions and music players. Today’s nursing facilities more closely resemble luxury resorts than their traditional hospital-like counterparts.
Relaxation Amenities
Studies have shown that natural light helps to fight off the effects of depression, lower heart rate and increase energy. Nursing facilities have taken notice, redesigning their spaces to take advantage of natural light, adding in fresh plants and offering outdoor activity spaces. In addition, many facilities have replaced fluorescent lights with ambient light sources, promoting relaxation and natural healing.
Learning Facilities
One of the biggest new innovations in nursing care is a focus on learning and education. Today’s active seniors often take classes in art, crafts and literature as a part of their living experience. Others listen to guest lecturers and participate in hands-on workshops. These learning facilities help residents to keep their minds sharp, engage in social interaction with other residents and maintain high spirits. Many new nursing facilities offer courses that rival those of local colleges and universities.
Nursing homes have come a long way from the sterile hospital-like settings of the past. Today’s nursing facilities have furnishings that rival those of master bedrooms, high class relaxation and entertainment facilities and educational facilities that are on par with major universities.
These new facilities make it easier for families to rest assured that their loved ones are being well cared for. With upgraded facilities and a dedication to comfort, residents are enjoying a high quality of life while getting the first class medical care that they need.