Built for care?: an in-depth study of Nursing Home (NH) layout in the German speaking part of Switzerland

Abstract: Swiss NH are still modelled on hospital architecture despite the consensus that NH should be a home for old people with care needs. NH are also workplaces for carers. They should give person centred care and support quality of life. This notion is put forward by political rhetoric and prom...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. Verfasser: Merzeder, Christine 1954- (VerfasserIn)
Format: Abschlussarbeit Elektronisch Software E-Book
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: Vechta November 2017
Schlagworte:
Zusammenfassung:Abstract: Swiss NH are still modelled on hospital architecture despite the consensus that NH should be a home for old people with care needs. NH are also workplaces for carers. They should give person centred care and support quality of life. This notion is put forward by political rhetoric and promotional materials of NH. A change from "hospital to home" has not happened yet and carers still work in a "hybrid space" – between a hospital and a "home". Culture- and organizational changes have been put forward as solutions as carers need a suitable workplace, supporting the required care. The topic of the built NH-work environment is being addressed in this study. Qualitative methods identified various architectural factors influencing care. Conducive were well-functioning space supporting care tasks, functioning technology and restorative features, e.g. nature, bright lights and colours.
Negatives were the daily necessity to engage in a "choreography of care" in order to adapt to unsuitable workspace, overcoming obstacles, walking long distances and dealing with "annoying technology". Carers "streamline care" and use "bulk treatment" of residents to save time. They also use emotional labour to speed up care. If time or energy gets tight, they omit tasks. - Carers invest extra energy when improving their work environment to enhance resident and staff experience. They make it more suitable for care, they decorate it to "make place" for the residents and engage in "buffering work" to lessen the impact of institutional layouts and rules on residents’ lives. Carers engage in intellectual deliberations on how "their workplace should be", even if it cannot be changed. When carers succeed in optimizing the environment, "being heard" by superiors, they seemed to attain positive affect from this success.
- Current NH buildings in Switzerland mostly replicate the traditional institutional layout. This study provides insights on how they can be redesigned to support care work, care outcomes and care quality
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