Many elderly people who move from their own home into a care home are able in some areas and not in others. They may be at the stage where they cannot live themselves, but do not need constant help with everything, and everything provided for them. Through research of care homes, I have discovered that many do not cater completely for the needs of this group of elderly people. The elderly brain needs activity, and without this activity it can regress, making dementia more likely. Challenging the elderly brain by encouraging people to carry on with hobbies they have, using their personal skills, helping others and getting other people involved in activities plays an important part in keeping the brain healthy.
Through this design, I want to make the transition from home to care home easier for the elderly by keeping some of their independence in areas they are more able in, as well as keeping the brain from regressing through activities and using skills, along with interaction with other residents.
By creating an installation which provides a small kitchen, this gives residents the opportunity to carry on their hobbies and skills in the kitchen whilst they are able, but in a safer environment with minimal supervision. Having the option of a few people cooking at a time means that they are also interacting with one another, passing on tips and skills – another way of keeping the brain active. It also provides an area for classes and small contests between residents, activities which have been shown, again, to help prevent regression in the elderly brain.
Consisting of three islands, the installation is designed for any care home, for around 2-4 residents at one time. By keeping the numbers small, this will keep noise to a minimum, something which can disturb people as they get older, as well as being easier for care assistants. There will be an area for preparation, an area for cooking and a washing up area, the three main parts of a kitchen. It is designed to be placed in a small space within a home. Storage will be integrated in the design through pull-out cupboards, making things easier to find and safer. An anti-roll lip will be included on the islands, to prevent the user from having to pick things up from the floor. By making the islands as easy to use and safe for the elderly as possible, this brings the need of a carer down to a minimum. This means the user can do as much as possible themselves or with the help of friends and other residents, which gives them more independence and makes them feel less of a burden to anyone.
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