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Senior Friendly Entrances. Leslie Johnston OTReg.(Ont.) St. Joseph’s Healthcare April 25, 2005. Senior Friendly. By 2030, 25% of the population of Ontario will be 65 or over, doubling the number of seniors . Senior Friendly.
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Senior Friendly Entrances Leslie Johnston OTReg.(Ont.) St. Joseph’s Healthcare April 25, 2005
Senior Friendly By 2030, 25% of the population of Ontario will be 65 or over, doubling the number of seniors
Senior Friendly A senior friendly hospital requires commitment by the administration and staff in terms of: • Physical environment • Process of care • Ethics in clinical care and research • Emotional and behavioral environment
Senior friendly What does a SFH look like? • Pt’s improved • Safe and comfortable • Services provided in a respectful and responsive way • Staff ask questions and listen for responses • Pt’s and families have input into decisions
Senior friendly Benefits of being senior friendly • Targeted approaches and best practice care • Increased job satisfaction and morale • Reduced costs and inappropriate use of resources • Enhanced accreditation process • “Loyal”, supportive community of pt’s/families
Senior friendly • First impressions make a lasting impression • “Universally” friendly hospitals are for all ages, education and disability levels and cultures
Senior friendly Resources your organization employs: • Occupational therapist • Occupational health department • Nursing and other front line disciplines • Designer who focus on the geriatric client
Senior friendly Newsletter: Implications by InformDesign “Compliance with the Americans with disabilites Act (ADA) accessibility standards in large scale projects, adds less than 1% to the cost of new construction”
Senior friendly principles Four principles : • Lighting • Signage/way finding • Noise level • Flooring/areas of rest
Lighting • Increased time to accommodate to changing light levels • Require three times more light
Lighting • Sensitivity to glare-direct and indirect
Lighting suggestions • Natural or full spectrum fluorescents • Ensure focused light on signs, counters • Matte surfaces: flooring, paint, glass, signage
Lighting suggestions • Screen over window to reduce glare
Signage/wayfinding • Restricted upward gaze
Signage/wayfinding • Yellowing of the lens, they see warm colors like yellow, orange, and red best • Up to 80% experience difficulty with reading
Wayfinding suggestions Signs should be: • at eye level • Uncluttered • Perpendicular to the wall with graphic • Black print on yellow in busy environment
Wayfinding suggestions • Use color to highlight check ins, doors
Wayfinding suggestions • Entry should have a reception desk and information centre staffed by Volunteers
Noise level • Reduced hearing ability – 33% of 65-74yr olds and 75% of 75-79 year olds • Difficulty filtering out background noise • Decreased discrimination • Decreased higher frequency thresholds • Noise can lead to anxiety, confusion, and fatigue
Noise Level suggestions • Acoustic ceiling tiles, wall products, draperies, carpet
Noise Level suggestions • Have hearing amplifiers available • Lower your voice tone • Don’t shout
Noise Level suggestions • Telephones with volume control and suitable for hearing aid use
Flooring/areas of rest • Reduced balance, mobility, muscle strength, endurance • Reduced depth perception
Flooring/areas of rest suggestions • Smooth with minimum level changes • Lighting even and consistent • Floor pattern should be low in contrast
Flooring/areas of rest suggestions • Seating areas at doors, down corridors • Ensure enough seating for visitor and companion • Variable seating heights with armrests that extend to edge of seat
Practical application Review of Handout