At BASIC Design, we are studying ways to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and other senior care and senior living environments. Each environment is unique, and every situation has its own complexities. But we believe that we can assist every owner, administrator and care team with an approach that is appropriate for their community. Below are topics that may help to begin a discussion with you.
WHERE TO BEGIN
Facility Review – Identify potential issues
Categorize/Prioritize – Plan of Action
Develop Solutions – Identify products, systems, materials, configurations, evidence based architectural interventions
Implementation – construct renovations, purchase/install products, equipment
Follow-up – Update/revisit with new data, testing and protocols
EXISTING FACILITIES
Range from simple to more complicated architectural interventions to minimize the spread
Visible interventions to instill confidence
Incremental plan to keep updating elements as is possible
Add hand washing and sanitization capacity
Study ingress/egress
Path of travel analysis
Signage and wayfinding
NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ADDITIONS
Design for safer interactions and not social isolation
Make facilities safer for all occupants and users
Integrated UV-C light ventilation and circulation systems
Add hand washing and sanitization capacity
Signage and wayfinding
Private Rooms with space for seating and dining - SUITES
Touchless fixtures, doors, systems
WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT AND UPCOMING REGULATIONS:
CMS regulations and State Regulations
Fire/egress Implications
CDC Guidance
Evidence Based Design Solutions
RESIDENT ROOM DESIGN (RETRO FIT AND NEW CONSTRUCTION)
Social distancing/separation
PPE in room? Storage and Disposal? Gloves on/off?
Hand washing/sanitation at optimal locations
Telemedicine added in room? Portable?
What can be done to (temporarily) to improve safety of semi-private rooms (where all private rooms are not available/not feasible at this time)
TOUCHLESS ENTRY
Automatic door hardware retro fit
Antimicrobial metal finish
ACRYLIC GUARDS/PANELS
Identify most effective/durable products
Local fabricator connections
SURFACES/MATERIALS
Upholstery fabric selections
Door handles
Handrail surfaces
Wall finishes
Special antimicrobial paints/wallcoverings
HVAC
Negative pressure rooms
Retrofit
What does it take, how expensive?
What has to be introduced, architectural modifications or access needed to be provided?
Temporary / “Makeshift”
Walls to deck
HEPA filter machine
Seals on doors
Window panel with flex duct venting
New Construction
What does it take, what is budget added expense
Door seals or undercut doors?
More/additional RTU’s , roof pit locations
Other Options - less than negative pressure
Min. CMS/State regulations – future regulations
System options and idea of budget numbers
Provide UV-C ligoht in ductwork for pass-by air decontamination
DIETARY/FOOD
Dining Room acrylic shields on tables
Social distancing furniture layout, and propose supplemental dining locations
Safe food delivery and disposal in main dining and supplemental dining