When you think of establishment for the elderly, you probably think negatively of them. A lot of people are bitter about sending their aging parents and loved ones to a place where they can be taken care of by others because they feel like they are abandoning them but this is not the case. Some elderly couples like to live in these “houses” because someone is always there to help them if they need it. Some of these establishments have apartments where people can live on their own and still have access to help and others are more involved. The job of an assisted living architect is not an easy one because a nursing home architect has to accommodate all of the patients needs.

There are many ways to set up an establishment to take care of the elderly. If you are in charge of the engineering and the layout of the building, you will want to have areas where the elderly can have fun, where they can eat, etc. You will also want to include a place where couples can live separately. Different wings in the building will also probably be nice to have because some people are sicker than others and you may need to give them more assistance. It is easier to have all of the patients that need more help in one general area as opposed to across the building. Other things to think about include lighting, floors, and the amount of space that you will need.

When this facility is being designed, a main point should be taken into consideration. These people, whether they are sick or not, are still people. They probably do not want to live like a prisoner for the rest of their lives so this place should not feel like a hospital. There should be room for them to socialize, play card or board games, and watch television of they want to. This place should feel like a home to them. By creating lighting and flooring that does not look like a hospital, this affect can be created. While bright lights might be necessary in some places, they will make rooms look like hospital rooms.

Space is very important in these institutions. If you are a nurse and you are responsible to getting the patients from place to place during the day, the last thing you want to deal with is stairs or elevators. Having the entire building on one floor is a good idea so that the patients can get around with ease and the nurses can get from place to place quickly if they need to.

These places for the elderly do not have to be horrible places. When you are in charge of building an establishment such as this, keep the families and patients in mind. Would you want to live in a place that is uncomfortable and lonely? Probably not, so make sure that whatever you design feels like a warm and loving place for the individuals who will live there.

Author Bio: Stewart Wrighter recently hired a local assisted living architect firm to help revitalize his ailing mother’s home. He was very impressed with the nursing home architect he recently hired.

Category: Aging
Keywords: assisted living architect,nursing home architect