New Study Provides Risk Assessment Framework for Resident Safety in Long-Term Care Environments

A new report published by The Center for Health Design (CHD) finds that the built environment plays a significant role in providing safe care to residents in long-term care settings. Funded by the Hulda B. and Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation, “Resident Safety Risk Assessment” includes a review of 55 empirical research studies that show the connection between environmental design and safety in nursing homes, assisted living facilities continuing care retirement communities and memory-care facilities.

Environmental features such as room occupancy, lighting, access to nature, wander gardens, acoustics, and ambience influence outcomes that can help prevent resident falls, unsafe exiting, sleep disorders, aggressions/disruptive behaviors, medical errors and healthcare-associated infections.

The report creates a framework for evaluation key environmental design features that affect resident safety, and will also provide guidance for the development of the Guidelines for Residential Care Facilities volume of the 2014 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities, according to co-author Anjali Joseph, PhD, EDAC, CHD Vice President/Director of Research.

Click here to read the report.