Zeitgeists and development trends in long-term care facility design.
Through literature analysis, in-depth interviews, and the application of the Delphi survey, this study explored long-term care resident priorities with regard to long-term care facility design in terms of both physical and psychological needs. This study further clarified changing trends in long-term care concepts; illustrated the impact that such changes are having on long-term care facility design; and summarized zeitgeists related to the architectural design of long-term care facilities. Results of our Delphi survey indicated the following top five priorities in long-term care facility design: (1) creating a home-like feeling; (2) adhering to Universal Design concepts; (3) providing well-defined private sleeping areas; (4) providing adequate social space; and (5) decentralizing residents' rooms into clusters. The three major zeitgeists related to long-term care facility design include: (1) modern long-term care facilities should abandon their traditional "hospital" image and gradually reposition facilities into homelike settings; (2) institution-based care for the elderly should be de-institutionalized under the concept of aging-in-place; and (3) living clusters, rather than traditional hospital-like wards, should be designed into long-term care facilities.
Wang
Chia-Hui
CH
Department of Architecture, Hwa Hsia Institute of Technology, Taiwan.
Kuo
Nai-Wen
NW
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000639:trends; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006804:Ergonomics; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000639:trends*; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000639:trends; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000639:trends*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018907:Privacy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan