Join a discussion with Addie Abushousheh as she shares design strategies for acute and ambulatory care settings!
Older patients, especially those with dementia, are disproportionately negatively affected by healthcare environments that are designed to cater to able-bodied, single-condition patients. The design of care settings is a modifiable risk factor that can facilitate better outcomes. The presentation will explore the objectives of safety, efficiency, satisfaction, and high-quality care in relation to designing care environments supportive of aging and sensitive to dementia. We will share lessons learned from the collaborative production of a visually intuitive and interactive design diagram for aging and dementia-friendly waiting rooms–an open-access resource model for translating an evidence-based literature review into design strategies that promote desired outcomes. We will share specific insights, reflections, suggestions, and strategies for designing acute and ambulatory care settings that are both anticipatory and responsive to the needs of older adults with physical and cognitive impairments, their companions, and personnel.
Experts
Dr. Abushousheh is an Organizational and Environmental Gerontologist and Researcher Associate for The Center for Health Design. With combined expertise in architecture, organizational development, gerontology and applied research, Addie advances comprehensive and translational agendas related to quality assessment and performance improvement for aging and dementia in the continuum of care. In addition to publishing and presenting, Addie is a tri-chair of the Facility Guidelines Institute’s residential document group, maintains an adjunct faculty appointment at Kent State University, is a member of the Moving Forward Coalition, is a Board Member for IDEAS Institute, and serves as an Advisor to Abacus Institute and The AIA’s Design for Aging Knowledge Community.