Skilled nursing care is a remarkably resilient industry. As pandemic year two draws to a close, the concept of renewal weighs heavily on the minds of many owner-operators. Physical spaces are an obvious place to start fresh. Whether it’s completely reinventing spaces or reinvigorating existing ones, there are plenty of options to consider, as experts point out here.
1) If keeping things simple appeals to you, consider evergreen design elements that easily mesh into conventional layouts or settings.
“There are many ways that simple adjustments can make a big impact,” said Samantha Belfoure, associate principal at Perkins Eastman. Using natural materials/textures and color in walls, flooring, upholstery and artwork is one way.
The pandemic also cast a critical eye on cleanability of fabrics, walls and more. Holly Sprowl, Design Source interior designer, has found herself using more vinyl wall coverings.
“Vinyl is a great, clean, antimicrobial, scrubbable and durable wall surface that can be incorporated into any design,” she said. “Some really beautiful designs are emerging that can take a rather plain item or space to something very elegant.”
New air quality systems are as much a design consideration today as drapes or paint, according to Gaurie Rodman, director of development services at Aptura, a Direct Supply company. Some “integrating” systems such as NPBI, for example, avoid costly new HVAC installs by incorporating ionization to remove pathogens.
2) Focus on changes that evoke positivity.
“Lighting can change how interiors look, making spaces appear much more fresh, inviting and even brighten the existing finishes,” said Sprowl. “Replacing old halogen lighting with brighter LED’s washes the space with more ‘white’ light, and removes a lot of the ‘yellow’ that can make walls, trim and furnishings look more outdated.”
Another way to make a big impact is through furnishings.
“First impressions in senior living are lasting impressions,” said Michael Zusman, CEO of Kwalu. “While communities raised their level of cleaning to protect against infection last year, those intense and frequent cleanings with alcohol and bleach left wood furniture looking much older than it is.”
Michael Graves designers approach the task by “focusing on first impressions, refreshing the look and feel of public spaces, and general perceptual and sensory changes that make people feel good,” said Karen Nichols, principal. This fall, Graves was working on a geriatric hospital entry modeled on a people-first concierge service, versus an institutional approach, she added. “Something as simple as changing the reception desk is a start.”
3) From subtle to overt, the pandemic has inspired “new normal” vibes.
“The struggle with pandemic design changes is how to maintain social distancing but not reduce the critical intimate or social relationships we have on a day-to-day basis,” Sprowl said. “In the post-pandemic era, spaces should allow social distancing for those who choose to, but there should be more emphasis on the equipment and appliances people touch every day. Providing more well-designed, convenient sanitation stations and motion sensored equipment to reduce spreading of germs is a great way to help infection control.”
4) If your facility has the budget, don’t shy away from design statements.
Consider an HVAC upgrade, replacing old windows to bring in more of the fresh outdoors or upgrading the facility’s technology infrastructure, said Rodman. All new window treatments or a full-scale lighting retrofit can provide a fresh ambience that screams “newness,” as Sprowl suggested.
Of course, the mother of all renovations is increasing the number of private rooms — an overt statement about reducing infection, added Nichols.
5) If the design budget is thin, there are still plenty of tweaks that can make a strong impression.
“Pre-existing nursing home communities that don’t have the funds to rebuild or do massive renovations can make design changes that bring life to the community,” said Zusman. “Common area lounges and activity rooms should be the first places within senior living to get updates post pandemic.”
Gottlieb said a ‘paint and paper’ approach that includes refreshing finishes, lighting and some furnishings can provide a new look and feel.
“General decluttering and establishing a few key focal points similarly signal renewal,” he said.
From the December 2021 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
