IT IS TIME TO PUT THE RIGHT DEMANDS ON HE ALTHCARE INTERIORS Research and studies clearly show that the physical environment has an impact on people's well-being and quality of life. But does this research reach planners of new residential care facilities? In modern care environments, the focus needs to be on the individual. Therefore, the interior design solution must be based on the unique needs and conditions of the facility. To create sustainable and health-promoting care environments, the knowledge and experience of many different stakeholders must be considered and the right demands must be put on the interior design. Not until then are health economic effects achieved.
Knowledge about how care environments are designed
and to be stimulated. Here, there are natural, inclusive
has come a long way in the last decades. Still, there is
areas for interaction, movement and rest. The furniture
much left to be desired in practical application. Not
is ergonomically correct, flexible and easily cared for,
much progress has been made in how interiors in care
while being designed with soft shapes and natural,
envionments are planned and procured. Rather than using
tactile materials that give a sense of warmth and of home.
the latest research on focusing on the individual and the
Such well-considered interior design, based
importance of the physical environment, what is often
on knowledge and identified needs, helps enable resi-
sought are norms that were established in the 1980s.
dents to live as well and as independently as possible.
Generally, interior design aspects are brought into the
It facilitates for staff, giving them more time and energy
process much too late. What is needed here is renewal and
to devote to nursing, and makes relatives feel welcome
a holistic view of interior design from the very beginning
and more involved. Essentially, these are environments
of the project, a physical environment that is based on
that help people thrive during sensitive phases of life.
solid knowledge, identified needs and the right demands. This will result in long-term, sustainable investments. The time for change is now. In the coming years, there
INSPIRING EXAMPLES We at Kinnarps work continuously with leading experts,
will be a rising need for care, especially for residential
researchers and staff within the healthcare sector.
care facilities. It is really high time to highlight the value
Coming up, you will find interviews with some of them
and priorities of the physical environment. It is becoming
on the importance of physical environments, focusing
increasingly apparent that these care environments need
on residential care facilities for the elderly. We will also
interiors designed to support the people who live in them
take a closer look at three specific care environments
and to facilitate so they can tackle any kind of challenge.
– an entrance, a dining area and a living room. Around
It is time to put the right demands on healthcare interiors!
them, we have created examples of what we see as health-promoting, sustainable interior design solutions.
HOW CARE ENVIRONMENTS OF THE FUTURE
We welcome you to read and be inspired by the
ARE CREATED
examples and the interviews - and to reflect on how your
Future-proof care environments not only take hard
physical environment supports your health care facility.
values, such as functionality, hygiene and ergonomics,
You can also read about Kinnarps Next Care®, our method
into consideration, but also soft values such as aesthetics,
of creating customised interior design solutions. Happy
fragrances and flavours.
reading!
In such environments, colour and contrast are used to make it easier to find one’s way around, to feel safe
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