I know that lots of you guys are getting up there in age and just looking forward daily to the time when you can move into one of those retirement communities and get your feet manicured every few weeks and not have to mow your lawn anymore…
I am on a committee to get a residence built here for eldercare. It is not an assisted living or nursing home, which are steps further along in the way the state defines such things. Eldercare is a residential home where each ( no more than six) has a private room and meals are prepared and shared in a family setting (unless you are a grumpy old man who wants to eat alone in your room at the computer or TV) .
So what things – amenities and necessities – would you like to see included in the design of such a home? I know there’s some good minds out there and some folks who have parents living in or considering a place like this.
I know there’ll be a couple wise cracks too. Have at it and be decent please but let me share this little story about part of the reasonning why this kind of place is needed.
On a neighboring island, a guy got older and could be left living alone anymore. He didn’t have serious medical needs but just someone to be around in case he fell or forgot his meds and to be sure he ate regular. He moved away from the island and neighbors he had known for eighty some years to an eldercare home in another place. He grew disoriented and his health went downhill, along with signs of depression growing.
Eventually, the folks back on that island got a home built and he moved back out. His health immediately improved, along with his attitude. He took over the flower beds, started painting pictures, and telling stories of old times. It was another two years before he turned the next leaf in his life’s book, and died peaceful in his sleep – at home – happy!
People get old and get afraid of new things, people and places. We want to make a place they can feel comfortable.
How does that translate to building design for you?
Excellence is its own reward!
Replies
based on conversations with elderly clients I would suggest simple and homey. forget the fancy dancy stuff. it will only frustrate them.
Be sure and add computer wiring for those who may want it.
A community garden area.
A sunroom for sitting when it's cold out.
A jacuzzi/spa...aaahhhhh.
A community room with enough different seating areas for 1 to 6 to get together (or not.) Or multiple rooms.
Deaf and blind old farts... a big screen and good, clear speakers in the media room, schedule vcr movies... with popcorn.
Lots of greenery inside... very healthy.
Lots of sunlight inside...keeps the diurnal rithyms steady
Feng shui design.
A small open salad bar in the afternoon.
A small fridge in each personal room... gives a feeling of independence, even if the dietician says what can go in each fridge.
Make each hall 25% wider than code.
Showers designed from the git-go to be sit down.
SamT
Sleepless in Columbia. Diurnal rhythm? What songs did they do?
do we have to be old to live in this place Sam?
My dear Head Warrior, one must always think of the (near) future.
SamTSleepless in Columbia. Diurnal rhythm? What songs did they do?
Sound blocking - for those damn loud tv's.
Whenever I visit my Grandfather-in law, The noise polution in the building is amazing. It is bothersome to the hearing.
WAHDView Image
Good one Piff, I agree with Wethead, simple. No steps is a good thing, and individual places like small patios where they can do their own thing.
Who Dares Wins.
Some are in wheelchairs or walkers so definitely all one level.
I've visited two already and in one, they like to gather in public areas to visit, gossip and watch TV together.
In another, they are still adjusting to having lost that sense of independence and they retreat to their own little room for privacy. The individual patio - maybe bird feeder- sounds great.
You don't want the sliding door out for someone getting to be borderline Alzheimers tho - unless an alarm or elecronic signal is atached to it..
Excellence is its own reward!
My first thought was to say go and visit a few of them. But I see you've already done that. Visiting more- both good and bad ones - Might be worthwhile.
Did you talk to the residents? They might be a good source of suggestions.
The only other thought to float through my brain was to make some "swing space". By that I mean a more or less empty room that can be made into whatever's necessary. Family get-togethers, entertainment, dances, or whatever.
Storage space is another idea. Many older folks have accumulated a lifetime's worth of stuff, and have to give much of it up when they get older and move into smaller quarters. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
"swing space"
Well I got this feeling that most of these older people wouldn't be into that but if you make the swing space, you probably need an on-site pharmacy to fill the Viagra prescripts and a couple extra o2 tanks
;)
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.
Have at it and be decent please Took all my fun away....
Roll in showers with no curbs, in case of a wheel chair.
....thinking.....
elevator maybe, for the same reason, keep stairs to a minimum....
wide aisles in the kitchen between cabinets and island if there is one.
Put the dishwasher on a raised base so they do not have to bend as far to load or unload...
Easy maitence materials for cleaning.
Softer floor coverings, I noticed walking on hardwood and tile all day gets to bothering me and I'm not old...
oohh... not a desing thing, but some of those recliners that vibrate with heat and lift you up, I love those things :)
That anything like you were looking for??
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.
Mount the TP dispensers (if they are the big commercial kind) ABOVE the safety rail. I HATE HATE HATE it when the end of the paper is hiding in the box at about ankle level.
Just my additional 1.75¢
SamTSleepless in Columbia. Diurnal rhythm? What songs did they do?
An outside walking track with a soft, flat surface (rubberized asphalt). Soundproofing so if the person next door is hard-of-hearing you don't have to listen to their TV.
A limited number of garage spaces. Don't laugh.... my wife's grandmother is 90, lives alone, and drives every day almost. (I'd ride with her anywhere.) But she has trouble with steps (had a knee, and the hip on the other side replaced) as does my wife's other grandmother who is 93 (and also lives alone). Guess I don't have to worry about out-living my wife. :)Never be afraid to buy the best -- you'll always be happy with it!
Infloor heating individually zoned for each resident. One person will want 78 and the next one will want 68.
If they will do their own laundry, front mount machines that are raised so you don't have to bend over.
Two rooms for each resident. A bedroom and a sitting room. Nothing like having company over and everybody sits in the bedroom.
Dimmers on the lights. I've heard complaints about the lights being to bright.
Edited 6/23/2003 12:34:32 AM ET by rich1
Are you planning to build this?
No really miniature efficiencies to save a bunch on building costs. Nothing worse than feeling closed in by four walls.
Kitchen/eating area large enough to accommodate a couple or more dinner guests without having someone's elbow on the countertop and another ruffling the window blinds. ADA bathroom, just in case. (Kitchen, too). I know you said common kitchen/eating facility but there are some who would still like to do for themselves or guests in the privacy of their own space.
Bedroom, sufficient for husband AND wife, with room for either a common bed (I like king-size) or twins if necessary for occupants needs.
Separate living room/sitting room - could be open plan with kitchen/eating area.
Plenty of closet space and other storage. You never know what people hate to discard or feel the need to have close.
High quality/quantity lighting - the eyesight goes all too soon. HVAC for each living unit. All units should have fixtures, door handles, etc. that can be operated by those with failing strength. Backlit switches and other safety lighting as well as strategically placed grab bars should be standard. Grab bars or rails should also be standard all over the common area.
SIX units only in your basic plan?
Living units in a half circle pattern around a central common area. Each apartment would have its own private lanai / patio - not postage stamp size either. I would think waking up to the sun on the patio side would be nice while the hotter midday and afternoon sun would be muted by the main bulk of the building. (Don't know about Maine climate).
Common area adjacent to all units would include a high ceiling open area with skylights. Plenty of seating easily reconfigured for whatever. Closed or semi closed areas opposite the living units (the other half of the circle) for common kitchen/eating area, library, couple of TV rooms. Visiting physicians room, completely stocked for emergencies (oxygen, defibrillator, etc.) All this on a single floor. Central area could be carpeted but perimeter should be a hard floor for ease of moving wheeled items such as wheelchairs, mini-scooters <G>, gurneys and crash carts.
Covered entryway for facility transportation convenience, including over the drive and covered walkways to WIDE parking places. A garage might be (or not) necessary but getting to that structure should also be under cover. It sometimes takes forever for an older person to get from point A to point B.
Am I thinking way too big??
Nice project! Marie-Louise over at Cook's Talk started a discussion abt her retirement home, and there are lots of good ideas there. I'll see if I can find the thread. Until I can, a couple of things stick out that I don't recall being mentioned so far--if there are lower cupboards, have the shelves slide out on rollers (or just use drawers), and consider waist-high outlets rather than near the floor. I'm a huge fan of spot lighting, so I suggest many outlets. Even in my tiny spaces, two outlets/room are not enough (I hope they're on every wall in newer places). I have power strips in every room but the bathroom!
You've gotten many great ideas so far! See if you can convince TPTB to allow for more pets than just birds. Pet therapy has had some wonderful results. I'll try to find a link to some info on that I heard quite a bit about a while back.
Oh, and skylights. If they don't feel like going outside, they can see what it looks like overhead, as well as just out their windows. Actually, I'd try to maximize natural light where it's most needed.
Two more things--place the upper cabinet handles near the base of the door instead of halfway/whatever up, and window boxes for herbs, color, shade, scent, etc.
Now, ok, I need to find those links. Remind me if I don't get back in a day or two.
Have you considered asking the Ombudsman at a local paper/service center to solicit input from seniors?
Edit: lucked out and found M-L's thread 14888.1
Edited 6/23/2003 4:02:11 AM ET by kai
Boy are you in for a stack of code books on this one...
But, if I understand your question correctly, code matters are not what you are primarily interested in. If I understand correctly you are looking for design criteria you should be asking your designer to include.
With the exception of careful attention to accessibility, A well designed elderly care facility is not going to be all that different from a well designed home of any sort. Good light, lots of natural colors and materials, gardens, human proportions and reasonable scale, simplistic variety, well defined paths and strong visual clues to help keep things visually oriented and connected. Lots and lots of "sheltering spaces" where residents can feel included but protected.
While it is a good idea to create symmetry and continuity in any design it is a bad idea to duplicate rooms and decor in elderly care facilities. Shared spaces should vary in a coordinated fashion. Nothing worse than a confused mind trying to figure out if they are in the East wing or the West wing of a building because the wings look virtually identical.
It is a good idea to surround the communal spaces with alcoves that allow a person to feel like a part of the space without being overwhelmed by it. (sheltering spaces) Small niches around the room allow individuals, or more intimate groups, to interact in more personable ways while participating in larger group gatherings. In an outdoor setting it might be porches leading out to a common garden with clustered plantings creating smaller distinct areas.
Think living and breathing communities not cold and sterile institutions.
Huge vaulted ceiling spaces are too much. They seem massive and impersonal to a healthy person standing up. Imagine how much more overpowering they can be to a person diminished in health and constantly seated. If such spaces are included, insure that there are lower ceiling areas in the same space to provide a sense of shelter from the vast and open space.
Above all, minimize the presence of staff and medical personnel without compromising their ability to supervise and aid. In addition to blending their posts into the environment I would even go so far as to suggest uniforms that blend the personnel into the decor as well. Like a good waiter, they need to be distinct and easy to find when needed but fade into the woodwork most of the time. Using the restaurant analogy a little further, no one likes to feel like they are sitting in the middle of the kitchen when they are trying to enjoy a meal but when that bread basket and water glass start getting empty it's critical that you can identify your waiter and get their attention right away.
Light and lots of it - especially natural light. Accommodate their collections with adjustable shelves and open wall space so they can surround themselves with "home." Vary floor treatments to help define spaces and paths without building walls. Use darker, warmer colors in the more intimate spaces and "energize" the decor in the communal spaces. NO INSTITUTIONAL WHITE!
Now to a few practical elements. Easy to clean and sterilize materials, minimize floor level transitions, make all doors extra wide and then just a little bit wider than that, centrally locate staff, make all drives circular for easy in and out emergency access.
Of course, a building is not even half the equation. It's all about how the facility is run and how the residents are treated. Give their families every reason in the world to come see them and activities they can share for a few hours while they are there... Ah but wait, I'm digressing into a whole 'nother issue... All I'm saying is just make it a nice place to spend the day and maybe more family members will do just that.
Well, ideas keep popping into my head but that's enough for a while.
Good Luck!
Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Now that I can operate a backhoe, I think you should consider me for those footings!
WAHD
Some of the things we like about my Grandma's place:
Display alcoves next to each door for personal things such as photographs. This makes the door much easier to find, especially for older eyes that can't read the nametags. They are covered by impact resistant plastic because some older folks get confused and start taking things.
Hair salon. There is a common room with a salon sink in it and a stylist comes once a week to take care of the residents. A lot of the ladies enjoy that a lot.
Ice cream parlor. It's a social place, and can have ice cream that caters to elderly (diabetic, low-fat, etc) needs. These things can't be found in real ice cream parlors, and everybody loves ice cream.
Her residence has all the other stuff: curbless showers, wide halls, doors that open with a handicapped button and close VERY slowly so elders can get through, alcoves for playing cards, nice communal dining room, as well as a private dining room so families can get together for a nice meal. In Florida, what you described is just the first level of Assisted Living (a place to live and somebody else to provide nutritious meals). If you can, design for greater levels of care because the fewer moves a person has to make the better.
Another thing to consider: DO have a some rooms that are smaller. At first it is really important to have a separate sitting and bedroom, a kitchenette. But as her vision goes, my Grandma wants a smaller and smaller space around her. Some nights any more than a few steps to the bathroom and she can't find it. When you can't see any more, that great space around you can seem pretty scary.
Thank you profoundly everyone. I knew this would be a great source but I am absolutely overwhelmed with good stuff here to digest and review.
I'll be back to respond more specificly but for now let me respond to a couple of general thoughts expressed or questins posed where I might have been less than clear.
We have formed a noin-profit organization to pull this off. Some state and federal grants are available and it looks like some land will be donated or provided at a very reduced price.
The state licenses these places and this designation is allowed only six units. There are codes galor from fed, state, fire marshall, medicaid or medicare, fire marshall, etc right down to the fact that if you serve alsheimers patients or certain other disablements, the walls and floor colours have to have a definite degree of contrast to help them with orientation and balance. There are rules defining minimum and maximum room size and all that. ADA is required in the public bathroom and some of the private ones.
I am not the builder - I do remodel work on mostly high end jobs rather than new commercial like this but I have experience with archies and design and with local codes and permitting so I can orient between archy and builder to facilitate and manage to get it done. This is a freebie - community service thing.
Mainly what I need to be hearing, and have a lot so far from all of you, is the human touch and desires to make it a home and not an institution - as much as possible within the rules.
Since some money will come from govt they will require that we accept a percentage of medicaid/medicare ( I don't know which is what) persons at the govt rate. Others will be private pay. They will be there because they want to be there. My job is to make it the kind of place they will want to be in, without that stigma that can go with getting that old.
Thanks all, so far.
Excellence is its own reward!
Dear piffin,
Don't be surprised by the wonderful responses you have received, nearly everyone has an elderly person who they care about. Whether friend or relative, dealing with our elders is good for the soul and the heart. They really have so much to offer as they are so very wise, and do not deserve to be discarded thoughtlessly.
Thank you for posting this because my own parents are getting older and we will have to think about these things soon. What a great reminder!
My own grandfather was still reading, painting, and walking a mile a day at 99! He died at 102, still miss his wisdom.
I realize this is off-track, but there are many "new urbanists" who are addressing similar issues. Despite the nay-sayers, there is alot of good stuff in the thinking of "scaling down the neighborhood". Having the corner store, laundry, drugstore close by would allow many to remain independant by making their daily needs accessable. I have found it very interesting reading, maybe you will too.
Forgive, not meaning to steal your thread. Carry on gentlemen (and ladies) with great info . . .!
darcy
Great post Darcy, and you are correct abt how elders need to hold on to independence (Having the corner store, laundry, drugstore close by). This topic just hasn't been addressed here in the US the way it has been in Europe, where, in the latter case, communal living w/many generations is somewhat taken for granted.
Piffin, you may have a truckload of followers here! I hope you keep us posted. One other thing you might like to explore is to see if you can get some sort of subsidy from those nearby corner stores, laundromats, etc. One of my now deceased neighbors had the corner liquor store deliver (mostly liquor, but some food), enabling him to a) keep his wife under scrutiny, and b) die sooner, I guess! Whatever, I was great friends w/his wife after his passing and the main thing I noticed was that it takes a heap of energy to lift a 200 lb person if you are only 100 lbs! No steps!
Number one on my list would be pedestrian freindly location. We are haveing a tough time on our island in not avoiding people in the street. Lots of people in to big a hurry to notice the slow moving folks in the road. Crosswalk do not mean you are safe, just legally entitled.
Room in the yard for a horseshoe pit? Seems that most of my older relatives enjoy tossing them shoes.
Sunroom sitting area, can it also serve as small greenhouse, I know they love to garden, and your winters are a little tough for that.
I will also voter for the display areas for pictures and the like. Makes for lots of talk amongst the people about others relatives. Talk is good, most times anyway.
BigScreen TV. My 83 year old uncle loved visiting us, he finally found a TV he could see without squinting.
Lots of Sound insulation, the noise can be deafening.
Thats all for now, keep up the EXCELLENT work, I here that it can be its own reward!
Kai mentioned trying to include pets other than birds... Here are links for two of the better pet therapy organizations.
Delta Society (all sorts of animals)
Therapy Dog International
The Delta Society site has links to abstracts and articles about the health benefits of animals, but I don't know if it has the article Kai was thinking about.
Many facilities arrange for visits from certified animals, but one of the assisted living centers near Chapel Hill, NC (Carolina Meadows?) has a resident dog (and cat?).
Karlyn
I think that we're expecting one or two feline residents and have no plans to prohibit other furry visitors..
Excellence is its own reward!
Great idea to contact someone about pet theraphy.
Our dog club certifies dogs for both societies, TDI and Delta and we have a very active group that goes to hospitals and nursing homes regularly.
You can find who is doing that in your area thru the links already provided to those organizations, by looking for local dog clubs in the yellow pages or asking any veterinarian.
For resident animals, those same associations will have some information for you on how to care for them.
Pets in those situations need regular groomings (there are substances used today to keep allergens down so pets don't affect people with allergies) one person in charge of care/training and such.
Done right, even people in those homes that don't care for animals or have allergies can be accomodated and the rest get to enjoy the pets.
I'm on the Board of a Senior residence and my wife runs a Senior's below cost residence. (I do a lot of the repairs).
Add to the list: Smart light control systems with LARGE buttons for the remotes; Headphone systems/speaker in wing chairs for the TV adicts in the rooms; community kitchen(s) for when visitors come; Exercise/weight rooms; touch screen technology for calling the staff when needed and wireless networking for the staff. We have just approved every nurse getting a Palm type device with wireless, so she/he can monitor and do reportage for the room or hallway.
Correct about tons of grants in USA through the HUD. Wish we had more in Canada. We would be building another two here, if we could.
Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
That comment is not off track at all. The consultant we have has stressed highly the same thoughts, that being near the center of activity is very important.
We also plan to create a good social atmosphere in other ways such as basing the Meals on wheels from this place and inviting older persons who want social activity or need day care but live with family at tnight, to be welcome..
Excellence is its own reward!
Okay, let me know if you need any additional help researching ideas, I love that stuff. . . However, it appears you have already found a wonderful resource here. What a great bunch of good people!
(We're all gonna be old someday, let's figure this thing out before we get there!) (Shop, garden, BBQ, etc.)
darcy
Just a morbid thought... Don't forget dying. This is a place where people will die so try to keep it a good place to do so.
Sorry.
SamTSleepless in Columbia. Diurnal rhythm? What songs did they do?
Did we forget our #1 reading room for FHB? Obviously we need the magazine rack and two roll holder. We'll need lots of room in front and around the toilet to manuver the walker and drop our adult diapers. Its a long way down from standing up to sitting down, so a higher toilet is needed.
I think yours is a human way of saying that we need ADA bathrooms.
Some of the walkers that I've seen have baskets built in for magazines or knitting needles, pistols or whatever...
;).
Excellence is its own reward!
or whatever...
Uh, you forgot water levels...Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
And tape measures. I am sure that those in the building trades would feel naked without one handy.
LOL
I just got back from a committee meeting.
Got some 2004 calenders to sell if anybody wants to contribute.
Throw in a few bucks for postage too.
Syssop go ahead and delte this if it breaks the rules, OK?
It's an officical non-profit corp. The Beacon Project!.
Excellence is its own reward!
51 was me. Sorry.
All of these comments and no one said anything about workshop space -- or if they did I missed it. My dad died 3 years ago -- at 93 and up until the last 9 months or so he worked in the shop almost everyday except Sunday. My folks (mother is still there) lived in this retirement development for more than 10 years in Boulder, CO. One of the important things for dad was that they had a common shop area. Mostly he did furniture repair for other folks also living there. He was very good at this and really loved it. He would go to the shop each morning -- work until about noon, have lunch, take a nap and they work about 2 more hours in the late afternoon.
Having a "craft" area like this can be very good for folks and add many good years -- or make the years that they good.
deblacksmith
I love this last idea! Thanks to all who have contributed so far. I am pulling ideas together from several locations this morning for a master list to rate ideas. anybody have any more?.
Excellence is its own reward!
Fabulous thread with tons of great ideas!
The only thing I didn't spot - which may be here (lots of reading for an a.m.) - is low windows. A friend of mine in a wheelchair moved into a really beautiful accessible apartment. One huge problem. The windowsills are eye level to her. She can't see out the windows, which is truly awful for her. Just getting daylight isn't enough.If you can't play a sport, be one.
in my mind, that was such an automatic thing that I didn't even list it. Views to enjoy what is going on in the neighborhood seems to be on the collective mind of the comittee. My own presonal high preference on this will be patio doors or sliders to an outsdie patio garden if some version can be worked into the budget.
Low sills in the common area it is..
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin - it sounds like you're all over this. Which is superb! Have you gone to any forums for people involved in elder-care, maybe a European one (they seem to be way ahead on this sort of thing)? I'm honestly not sure what else you could pick up - but I'm guessing there is something.
Good on you, for your involvement with this, and your very genuine concern and interest. It's always encouraging to see. If you can't play a sport, be one.
You mean they've got old people in Europe?
;)
My wife worked in nursing in geriatrics for a long time and still does a lot of private call duty at night in their own homes. We've seen it as a big need here and have friends in three other places who actually run similar facilities as private businesses. We never could do it alone though.
My own Grandmother is abpout ninetythree and still climbs the stairs to her own bedroom in her own home.
My Dad has already passed away and I saw the terrible fear he had of the idea of a nursing home or old folks home with the stigma of crowded, filthy, uncaring institutional settings.
This will be a HOME for residents, not an institution..
Excellence is its own reward!
I understand about the home vs. residence/facility designation.
I'm one of a small group of neighbours here, helping to keep 4 neighbours in their 80's in their homes as long as possible. What you're talking about would be a dream come true for our 'gang'. One lady has lived on this street since her birth 87 years ago, one fella has been here since he was about 16 - so 65 years+ here, the other two have been here between 45 and 50 years. They don't want to move, and we want to help them stay part of the neighbourhood. If you can't play a sport, be one.
Somebody mentioned it but I will second it.
Personal display case outside the indivdual's unit, like a small trophy case. My wife's uncle Walter's place had these and you could tell the residents really liked showing of the family pictures and the like to tell others a little about them. Some were done up real elaborately (sp?).
(Piff's would have FHB hat in there I am sure)
Another thought is plenty of space for photos. Shelves or wall space?
And bird friendly landscape.
One thing that I have never seen is a good play structure or area for kids - specifically Grand Kids. Would make coming to visit more fun/comfortable for the kids.
I'll keep thinking about it.
Bill (the bean counter)
Edited for spelling
Edited 7/12/2003 10:04:50 AM ET by Bill_H
Hi, bill,
The playground idea is good. Nothing cuts a visit short faster than bored kids geting in trouble. And grandparents love to watch the offspring interact....
One potential site is immediately adjacent to the preschool playground so we may not have to invest in that..
Excellence is its own reward!
When I get old I want a bumper car track so I can drive till I'm 150 years old and nobody gets hurt. :-)>
In all seriousness, don't forget that the "accessibility plan" needs to be extended to the neighborhood streets, walks and driveways as well as the homes. Increase widths, turning radius's and visibility everywhere and keep the speed limit down.
Consider locating neighborhood entrances, at least those entrances leading directly to the houses, on side streets instead of major thoroughfares if possible and make roadside curbs and driveway entrances highly visible after dark. Consider white concrete - it is bright and reflective even without coatings. Plan the street lights to emit bright pools of light on the street but shield them to keep from flooding the homes with excessive light.
Extra wide sidewalks will allow room for wheelchairs to pass each other and should be wide enough, or set far enough back beyond a strip of grass, that pedestrians can feel safe from the traffic on the street.
And finally, if possible, see if a neighborhood access to shopping and other necessities can be arranged to minimize or eliminate traveling on public roadways at all.Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Well, site selection is a huigh priority for another committe on a lot of those issues, but I have to remind you that we live on an island. We have no major thoroughfares, LOL
You have probably described a driveway access and parking spoace that is larger than the main road! ( I'm a chuckeling, knowing how much space you have out there in tejas country)
But I do have in the list, adequate parking and turnabout for access and emergency vehicles. Amazingly, one site offered to us and high on the list of possibles is adjacent to the municiple building which houses the town office, the fire dept. the police station, the health clinic, the preschool, the voting booths, and a fairly large parking lot for this island. One thing local parties have recommended is a site where activities of comings and goings can be watched. The other site under primary consideration is almost across the street from all this..
Excellence is its own reward!
Sounds to me like you're building a small corral for my part of the country. Is this going to be a single large building or a community of individual houses? I was posting with a mindset toward the latter.Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
The former. Individual retirement communities canbe just like any other place as far as the state is concerned. But for licensed facilities,
the state has designations for each level of service, from eldercare, assisted living, nursing homes, and on to hospices.
The eldercare arrangement we are aiming for with this phaase is a residential rental kind of like a boarding house with private bedrooms and bathrooms and communal dining etc. The license limits the number of occupants to six. There is also some guidelines and restrictions placed in connection to the Feds, if you accept their grants and any medicare funding. I don't understand that part of it. Other committee members do.
Larger than six rooms would begin to take away from the homey nature anyway and the island population is not all that large. If we find the rioght property it is possible we can phase in another one like it or build an "assisted living" facility for those who need more care..
Excellence is its own reward!
So glad this topic reappeared. The shop is a real necessity, mostly used by men in the retirement home we visited thinking Mom might be headed there. However, there was also an exercise room, and a crafts room (mostly used by women), a library of all donated books, and a non-denominational (I started to spell demonational OMG!) chapel. They also had a theater and who knows what all. The killer was the food. Nasty, and the chef supposedly came from the Hotel Del Coronado. Maybe he was off the day we ate there, but it was worse than cold fastfood hamburgers.
There are so many wonderful ideas here it almost makes getting old ok. Almost. One other thing to consider is those new little pretend cars used to tool around nearby--I think they need some recharging outlets in the garage area.
I haven't been able to find a link to the guy who encouraged dogs and cats in retirement homes, sorry.
Great and admirable project. Let me know when I can sign up!
"it almost makes getting old ok."
Hey, I'm starting to look forward to it - if I can figure out a way to afford it.
Let's see, I wouldn't have to take out the trash. I could get a massage and get fed without having to cook unless i wanted to. I could sit at the PC all day whenever I felt like it. I wouold have transportation to the doctor when I needed it.
Hmmm....Starting to sound just like my life now
Not!.
Excellence is its own reward!