Fit and Filling Facility for the Elderly - Coursework Example

Fit and Filling Facility for the Elderly School: Introduction In a similar manner as that of other developed countries, a large proportionof America’s population is growing older – calling for the delivery of assisted care facilities; these facilities are positioning themselves to meet the changing needs of the aging population during the modern times. This paper will explore the design characteristics of an assisted care facility for retirees, taking into account their psychological and physical changes in the development of the design. Through the incorporation of their physical and psychological changes in the design of the facility, the developers aim to make the lives of the aged as comfortable and fulfilling as possible (Secker et al., 2003). Description of the assisted care facility The consideration of the people to live at the facility has been taken into account, right from the gate of the facility. The design features incorporated into facility are as accommodating as possible – to the aged people that are still strong and also the ones suffering from disabilities. The design features include that the road and the pathways to the main building are usable by wheelchairs and people using walking aids (Huang, Thang & Toyota, 2012). This was done by ensuring that the roads and the pathways do not have stairs; stairs would make it difficult for the aged using wheelchairs and walking aids to move about. Around the main building, there are flower gardens of different flower species; the differently colored species of flowers and the custom-designs of the flower gardens for the different sections make it easier for the aged, especially those suffering from dementia to remember the location of their rooms. At one extreme side of the facility, close to the fence, there is the health center, where the elderly living at the facility are rushed for urgent medical care (Secker et al., 2003). At different sections of the facility, the common open parks will have different plant species, in order to help the aged to remember their respective house and the entrance to their main hall. Image of the common park for main building 1 and 2 The most notable features of the space around and within the park are that the pathways are paved using colored concrete blocks. The paving of the pathways and the common areas is done using different colors, and that choice was made for different reasons. First, the choice of white materials for the pathways was made to guarantee that hygiene levels would remain as high as possible. Secondly, the different colors for the pavements will help the aged suffering from dementia to recall their respective rooms, and their way to facilities like the health center, the shopping center and common facility amenities. From the outside, towards the front side of the facility, there is a pathway heading to the suburban shopping mall which is located about 50 meters from the facility. At the shopping mall, there are many of the stores that an aged person would need to visit, including a bread shop, a Starbucks outlet and a wellness center, which provides aerobics, physical fitness and physiotherapy services. From the outside, a visitor can see the two-bedroom apartments of different sizes, ranging from 825 to 2000 square feet. From inside the main building, the visitor will find the 2 bed roomed apartments made to eliminate the negative stigma and the fears related to living in a senior housing facility. Firstly, the different occupants of the apartments (rooms) will not share bathrooms and kitchens. Like traditional care facilities, the facility will offer assistance for daily living activities; including dressing, bathing, and the preparation of meals, but it will guarantee more comfort, privacy and a home-like experience. The bathrooms are particularly larger than traditional ones, in order to offer plenty of space for the attendants to help the residents of advanced ages (Secker et al., 2003). The windows to the rooms and the bathrooms are easy to open, and this feature is very important for those suffering from arthritis. The rooms are designed to open towards the view of the flower beds, in order to give the residents the feeling of a natural environment. In order to integrate the seniors into the life of the general community, the design has allowed the residents of the area to visit the amenities at the facility, including the shopping mall, eateries and the health center. However, as a precaution, the different amenities have an entrance from the facility and others for use by the visiting residents of the surrounding community. Many of the amenities have also been equipped with furniture that allows for their reconfiguration, during the cases when other events are to be hosted at the facility. The events hosted at the hall within the facility include musical programs, lectures, films and educational forums. In addition to the traditional memory care provided at the facility, more ancillary services aimed at meeting specific needs are provided. These services include short-term rehabilitation, where physical therapists attend to residents and non-residents as well (Jitramontree, 2010). The physical and psychological changes that influenced the design and the effects of the design on the residents During the planning of the design of the facility, the design changes guided by the anticipated difficulties of the elderly residents were guided by the reliability theory of aging and longevity. The theory maintains that the lifespan of humans is not fixed, and can be increased through better maintenance of body systems (Gavrilov & Gavrilova, 2001). For example, by including physiotherapy services in the care delivered at the facility, it is hoped that the damage of physical systems will be delayed. Also, through the incorporation of designs that prevent falls and shocks among the residents, including the roughness of floors, the facility hopes to keep the elderly healthy for longer and in fully functioning states (Gavrilov & Gavrilova, 2001). Physical changes The first physical change expected to affect the aged residents of the facility, which influenced the design of the facility is the decline of senses, especially vision. In anticipation of the loss of vision among the residents, noting that it is a vital channel for information collection from the environment, the lighting standards adopted for the facility were different from normal. For example, the lighting was increased by about five times, in the main building and the rooms of those aged above 80 years, in order to allow them to see clearly and comfortably. The adjustment of the lighting at the facility will also help the residents suffering from glaucoma and cataracts, because inadequate lighting can limit their mobility and communication, due to their reliance on leap reading. The illumination of the facility was also made highly consistent, because changes in brightness can create the impression of steps, which can increase disorientation, confusion and agitation among the aged (Foos & Clark, 2013). The second change is the decline in physical strength, flexibility and endurance. In anticipation of these changes among the elderly who are likely to be suffering from osteoporosis, arthritis and the loss of balance – a variety of changes were necessary. The changes included that a hand rail was added to the design of corridors, bathrooms and kitchens, where they would increase the balance and the security of the elders walking along without canes or wheelchairs. Along the corridors, hallways, passages and large rooms, sitting places were incorporated. The sitting places will cater for the needs of the elderly after they get tired of walking or standing, so as to avoid the risk of exhaustion and falling. The flooring texture of the facility was made with the walking needs of the elderly in mind. The changes included the elimination of slippery floor surfaces, so as to eliminate or reduce the chances of slipping and falling along corridors, walkways and bathrooms. The third physical change is the decline in the efficiency of body organs, including the lungs. The lungs, in particular, lose their elasticity, and that limits the amount of oxygen taken into the body. In anticipation of this change, the designers increased the ventilation of the rooms and the walkways, by installing ventilation gaps that are larger than normal and also wide opening windows to allow air into rooms and corridors (Secker et al., 2003). Psychological changes The first change is related to the working of the brain, and memory loss was taken into major account. In anticipation of the difficulties related to memory loss, the apartments of at the facility are numbered and names provided at the door, so that elderly residents can trace their apartments and rooms. The second psychological change anticipated was dementia, which is likely to result from the frequent change of surroundings. In anticipation of this change, the landscaping of the facility was made to resemble that of the home environment, and the arrangement of furniture was changed to replicate that of the resident’s home. The third psychological problem is that of grief, loss and bereavement, mainly due to delayed grieving, leading to the eruption of the pain during old age (Huang, Thang & Toyota, 2012). In anticipation of these changes, the residents are allowed to visit one another, and a common sitting room was provided for sharing their past experiences, which relieves them of the pain. In accordance to the theory of congruence, the design changes inspired by the anticipated physical and psychological differences were those similar to the preferences of the aged at their homes (Wyatt, 2001). For example, by customizing the arrangement of furniture inside the respective apartments according to the preferences of a residence, it is expected that the residents will find physical movement much easier, and will be more psychologically balanced and enjoy their stay at the facility. By designing the facility with the physical and the psychological needs of the elderly in mind, including that they would prefer to walk on highly lit corridors and floors that limit the chances of falling, the residents would feel calmer and more secure (Wyatt, 2001). The design of the facility benefited from a variety of social, recreational and physical opportunities, including a health center, fitness center, eatery, shopping mall and a social hall. The effects of these facilities on the lifestyles of the residents include that all will have fitness services at their disposal, healthcare needs will be catered for and family visits are highly accommodated (Foos & Clark, 2013). Further, the social experience of the residents is exceptional, taking into account that they also benefit from the shared programs and experiences with the community members and that will influence their identity as people living within a normal community and not a facility for the elderly. In response to the health needs of the elderly, the health center and the consultation services at the facility dictate the diets of the residents, and that will influence the adoption of a healthy diet to complement lifestyle changes (Jitramontree, 2010). The overall effects of living an all-inclusive life-style include that the life expectancy of the residents will be greatly improved, and their life experience will be highly enhanced (Gavrilov & Gavrilova, 2003). Conclusion The American population is getting old rapidly, and that has increased the demand for assisted care services. The design of the care facilitate was done in anticipation of the needs of the aged residents, including that many would expect to live in a facility that helps them to remember their way and improve their living experience. The physical and the psychological changes that inspired the design of the facility include the loss of sensory power and the loss of brain power. By adopting a design that meets the needs of the varied population, the facility will cater for the needs of the elderly, improve their life experience and extend their life expectancy considerably. Reference List Foos, P., & Clark, C. (2013). Human Aging, Vital source for Kaplan University (2nd Ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Learning Solutions. Gavrilov, L. A., & Gavrilova, N.S. (2001). The reliability theory of aging and longevity. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 213(4), 527-545. Gavrilov, L. A., & Gavrilova, N.S. (2003). The quest for a general theory of aging and longevity. Sciences SAGE KE 2003(28), 1-10. Huang, S., Thang, L., & Toyota, M. (2012). Transnational mobilities for care: Rethinking the dynamics of care in Asia. Global Networks, 12 (2), 129. Jitramontree, N. (2010). Exercise promotion: Walking in Elders. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 36(11), 10-18. Secker, J., Hill, R., Villeneau, L., & Parkman, S. (2003). Promoting independence: But promoting what and how? Ageing and Society, 23 (3), 375–391. Wyatt, G. (2001). Congruence (Rogers Therapeutic Conditions Evolution Theory and Practice, Volume 1). Ross-on-Wye HR9 5LA: PCCS Books. Read More