NEWS
Senior-friendly strategies for an accessible hospital Continued from page 8
As part of West Park’s commitment to help patients reclaim their lives now, and for decades to come, the new West Park campus will consist of two major capital projects – a New Hospital and a Non-Hospital development. It will bring together specialized rehabilitative, complex continuing, ambulatory and long-term care, along with independent living opportunities and community-based services, on one integrated site.
NEW SERVICES AND FEATURES BENEFITTING SENIORS The contemporary approximately 730,000 square foot New Hospital will accommodate major growth and greater visibility of outpatient services, satellite hemodialysis, and a Geriatric Day Hospital for diagnostic, rehabilitative and therapeutic services to seniors living in the community. Building on this, senior-friendly design features throughout will include spacious, flexible patient rooms with thoughtful, well-planned elements such
as wider doorways and turning radius for large wheelchairs, more power-door operators with hands-free operation, and patient lifts in all rooms. And 13 purposeful outdoor therapy “destinations”, terraces on every floor, and easy access to the outdoors from anywhere in the building. This will enhance therapy options and proximity to the healing effects of nature for all patients, regardless of age or mobility. The Non-Hospital Development will be a vibrant, active and healthy, mixuse space with close access to medical services, nature, recreation and social engagement for seniors and persons with disabilities. Non-Hospital services will strengthen and complement existing West Park programs, and may include supportive housing, a hospice, community-based services, and primary care all located on an inviting, nurturing site. It will enable an aging population to remain healthy, active and connected to their community while promoting their physical, emotional and social well-being.
INCLUSIVE DESIGN, ADVANCED ACCESSIBILITY “The new campus promises to be fully accessible and adaptable, with flexible space and opportunities for everyone,” says Lorie Pella, Director of Campus Development. “Developed with accessibility specialists and a West Park accessibility working group, the entire campus was reviewed with a senior-friendly hospital lens. This meant incorporating building code changes under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Code+Plus evidence-based design, staff and patient input on room mock-ups, learnings from comprehensive site visits, and requirements for physical design, furnishings, fixtures and equipment,” he said. Integrated and embodied into the plans were also the seven principles of Universal Design supporting accessibility – that design be equitable, flexible and simple and intuitive to
use; perceptible information; tolerance for error; low physical effort; and size and space for approach and use. The physical, cognitive, social and emotional capabilities, limitations, needs and wants of all people who occupy, work within or visit West Park have been considered. The new site will offer upgraded therapy areas on every floor; assistive listening equipment to amplify sound directly to hearing aids in areas such as the auditorium and reception desks; frequent rest areas along public paths of travel; simple wayfinding with accessible signage and digital options; and integrated bedside terminals, among other advancements. The long-anticipated West Park integrated campus of care will be a realization of years of careful thought and planning. With it, West Park looks forward to helping more seniors and other patients get back to community, back to family, and back H to life. ■