This article describes the author’s efforts to better understand aspects of design tailored to elderly patients seeking emergent care in the United Kingdom and Canada. Funding from the Florence Nightingale Foundation provided the opportunity for the author to explore designs and healthcare environments configured to meet the space design needs of the elderly.
The objective of this manuscript was to share information collected on best practices in providing emergent care to elderly populations.
The author describes her visit to four locations in the United Kingdom and six locations in Canada. She describes key findings centered on three of the Canadian locations.
The author describes several “key messages” that resulted from her anecdotal observations. These included a) the need for designers and architects to use data and demographics to tailor design; b) the need to ensure that frailty-specific needs of the elderly are considered when designing the physical space; c) the need to engage clinicians in all design projects; and d) she emphasizes the need to follow up with surveys of patients, staff, and visitors.
The work is based on a collection of observations and interviews. Outcome studies are needed to measure specific outcomes from the recommendations.