AVS. Arkitektúr verktækni skipulag - 01.09.2003, Page 30

Homes for the Elderly in Holland
and to experience something interesting during
this „trip." All ward corridors end in a sitting area
with recessed, indistinct doors leading outside.
In one of the squares of this three-fold cruciform
is a common reception with ward services, hair-
dressing saloon, music room, television, office
and an area for recreational activities. Few of
the 90 inhabitants are up and about from early
in the morning till late at night. When they are
dressed, they usually have their morning coffee
in the recreational area. This open corridor sys-
tem has the hidden advantage that sleeping
drugs are hardly given to any inhabitant. The
nursing staffs know each other and most of the
inhabitants who in the latest regulations are not
called inhabitants but clients (customers).
Before meals, the inhabitants are individually
helped to their own ward.
In planning the rooms of the building, the ward
with least nursing needs in individual rooms was
placed next to the ward with the greatest nurs-
ing needs, such as those for bedridden people.
In this way, wards are joined so that the workload for each shift is similar. On the nightshift, one nurse and
one assistant per two wards is common.
Ideas have been put forward for better use of nursing staff and better use of floor area and space, assessed
by the staff. All wards have their special features, colour and atmosphere. All patios are designed in a differ-
ent way with own theme different lighting and furniture.
Different wishes can be accommodated for, although daily activities are laid down by the design of the build-
ing. A change of name-plate is the cheapest alteration.
Good ventilation is important. The buildings are without air-conditioning, but sun-shelters are in front of win-
dows and heavy building materials are used, such as woodwool concrete for the ceiling. Water dampness is
reclaimed and sprayed during the winter. Too dry air causes itching in many elderly people. Technically, these
three nursing wards and daily service ward have four moisture, ventilation and heating systems that can be
comparatively small and placed in cubicles on the roof. From them there is no air sound or draft and the
indoor air is of high quality all the year. ■