New Guide To Help Care Homes In Creating Rooms That Aid Stroke Rehabilitation
A new guide that aims to help care homes build the ideal personal space for stroke survivors has been released by AKW. Produced with expert knowledge from Senior Occupational Therapy Lecturer Terri Grant from the University of Worcester, the guide called “Creating care homes that aid stroke rehabilitation” outlines the best practice design principles for bathroom and bedroom suites, and offers comprehensive advice to both nursing and residential homes.
With approximately 8,000 people being discharged from hospital to a care home after stroke every year in the UK, the guide highlights the importance of creating suitable accommodation that puts stroke survivors on the road to rehabilitation. It has been developed as a reference point for care home staff, plumbers and builders, and, as half of all survivors have a disability, the guide aims to further improve the facilities available for those who have survived and subsequently live with the impact of stroke.
“Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the UK, with almost two thirds of stroke survivors leaving hospital with some degree of diminished physical or cognitive ability,” says James Dadd, Marketing Director at AKW. “This, however, does not mean that dignity and quality of life need to be compromised. With the right support and some clever adaptations in the home – whether that is a care facility or their own property – stroke survivors can continue to lead reasonably independent lives.”
While the needs of stroke victims vary tremendously, there are several basic design principles that help create a safe and comfortable setting for care home residents.
One of the most important rooms to consider in care homes for those who have suffered a stroke is bathrooms. Their design must take account of factors such as altered visual perception, mobility, physical strength challenges and confusion. This means the design must be strong, logical and simple.
Free to download through the AKW website, the guide gives an insight into the different types of stroke, the impact it can have on people’s lives and the challenges that survivors commonly face in the home environment. It then goes on to provide advice on designing areas that encourage rehabilitation and wellbeing, and offers specification guidance for essential equipment, such as showers, toilets and basins.
The AKW guide to creating care homes that aid stroke rehabilitation can be downloaded here.