September 27, 2013
Contact: Scott Pigeon
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. | Director of Marketing
Phone: 920-380-2175
Email: spigeon@hoffman.net
Hoffman to share benefits of a person-centered care facility
(Appleton, WI) Can the design of a skilled care facility make a difference in the quality of life for its residents? Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc. senior project designer Catherine Cruickshank and project architect Julie Heiberger, along with Sr. Margaret Wick of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family in Dubuque, Iowa, will examine this question during their presentation “The Facility as a Care Giver?” at the Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) National Conference in Anaheim, California October 22-25.
Cruickshank says there has been a shift in thinking when it comes to the design of skilled care facilities. “We are seeing more of a person-centered approach to facility design as opposed to a medical-model, which can be quite sterile,” she stated. Our thinking during the design process now includes physical appearance and reasoning on how these changes will positively impact a resident’s experience, in addition to meeting the standard functionality requirements.”
Heiberger points out that a person-centered facility offers tremendous benefits to residents. “This type of facility design focuses on creating a warm, homelike environment promoting social and spiritual well-being. We will be discussing how recent findings have shown that a facility’s design, look and feel does affect the health and well-being of residents.”
Cruickshank, Heiberger, and Wick will share case studies of three skilled care facilities where resident’s health and social outlook greatly improved since moving into their newly designed home. “I have seen first-hand how the person-centered approach has had a positive impact on the quality of life of our sisters,” said Wick, who led the Dubuque sisters’ building committee in the development of Clare House, their new skilled care facility. “It is proof that a person’s living environment is connected to their overall physical and mental health.”
Hoffman has a 25-year history of partnering with religious communities and senior living providers in Wisconsin and throughout the country. Recent projects include Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh’s Eden Meadows campus, which received a Citation of Merit from DESIGN | Environments for Aging, and Holy Wisdom Monastery in Madison, the highest-rated LEED-New Construction v2.2 building in the United States.
The Resource Center for Religious Institutes is a non-profit corporation that focuses on enhancing the living of religious life by providing integrated education, advocacy and consultation services and resources.
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. is an integrated Total Project Management firm based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Hoffman’s mission is to make a positive impact on people’s lives and their environment by providing creative ideas and responsible solutions. Total Project Management: Vision Taken to the Power of Green® (TPMg), is Hoffman’s exclusive process that integrates efficient, healthy, and cost-effective building solutions that respect the environment while enhancing a building’s quality and value and reducing initial and long-term facility costs. Learn more at www.hoffman.net.
