Design


treads, a seat against a floor, a handrail against a wall, and so on, the higher the contrast score the better. Effectively colour contrasting an environment involves aiming for a 30 point difference between critical surfaces and key features (30 points is ideal, 25 points good, and 20 points acceptable).


Determining critical surfaces and features involves understanding how people will use an environment and levels of functionality. Large critical features are doors, ceilings, walls, floors, and furniture. These features help with navigating through a space. Medium-sized critical features include


architraves, bath panels, cupboard doors, and kitchen surfaces, while grab rails, light switches, plug sockets, door edges, drawer and cupboard handles are considered smaller significant features.


When it comes to bathrooms, critical surfaces and key features to consider contrasting include: n Wall to floor. n Ceiling to wall. n Sink and toilet to wall. n Sink and toilet to floor. n Grab rails to wall and floor. n Shower seat to wall and floor. n Shower enclosure to wall. n Bath panels to wall and floor. n Shower controls and shower head to wall. n Toilet paper/toilet dispenser to wall. n Hand drier to wall. n Soap dispenser to wall.


Other considerations include: n Ensuring there is level access to the shower enclosure to avoid trips and falls. n Minimising obstructions and trip


We must be mindful of pattern and its effect on visual impairment


hazards with wall-hung sanitaryware where possible.


n Avoiding shelves and cabinets which jut into the room space, opting instead for wall recesses for storage.


n Avoiding reflective materials such as chrome and glass on fittings, as these can distort and provide unpredictable LRV values and pooling of light. Instead, choose matt finishes for maximum, predictable contrast.


n Remembering the finishing touches – contrasting towels and other accessories are a quick and easy way to make a difference.


Further detail on the requirements for effectively equipped bathrooms are laid out in Approved Document M Volume 23 BS 8300.4


and


Approved Document M provides information about the ease of access to, and use of, buildings, including facilities for disabled visitors or occupants, and the ability to move through a building easily, including to toilets and bathrooms.


Pattern and detail Aside from colour contrast and reflectance, we must also be mindful of pattern and its effect on visual impairment (not to mention dementia). For example, some individuals will find it very difficult to walk on patterned or striped flooring, and a busy floor surface could lead to someone falling or stumbling.


Speckled worktops in kitchens can make it difficult for some individuals to locate items on a work surface, and patterned wallpapers can make locating light switches and plug points extremely challenging. A feature we see time and again is the misuse of decorative light fittings – elaborate shades and chandeliers which throw out distorted ‘disco ball’ effects creating disturbed light levels for those with sight loss and potentially upsetting visual disturbances for residents living with dementia.


This does not mean that design in care has to be plain and uninteresting; it just means that we need to work harder and think smarter when planning the detail. “The use of fabrics and wall coverings with


varying textures and tonal changes can help create interesting interior design schemes.” Margaret Calkins5


The importance of effective lighting We all appreciate the importance of good lighting, but did you know that we need more light as we get older? Due to weakening muscles and a decrease in the size of the pupil as we age, less light is able to enter the eye. In addition to this, the rods (photoreceptor cells in the retina that function well in low light) in our eyes decrease in density as we age, and our corneas thicken and become increasingly opaque, making it more difficult to see in low light. According to RNIB, by the time you reach 60, you are likely to require three times more light than when you were 20. Natural light is the best form of light


for people with any degree of sight loss, as it gives a true colour rendition of the environment, which helps people to see as clearly as possible. Top tips for maximising natural light:


n Use windows, sun pipes, glass blocks, roof windows, and glazed doors.


n Use curtains and blinds that do not obscure the windows and are able to be pushed right back or up to maximise natural light.


n Use lighter weight and light coloured fabric on blinds and curtains.


n Use lighter room surfaces and furnishings.


n Use low window sill levels to maximise views from a seated position.


n The use of single bank corridors, where possible, will enable views to the outside.


Natural lighting can, however, be an unpredictable source of light, and can


30 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com January 2024


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40