IMPROVEMENT OF HOSPICE INTERIORS

MIRIAM .N. MREMI

INTRODUCTIONHospice care is a coordinated program for providing palliative care and supportive services to ill patient. Case managed services based on physical, social,

spiritual and emotional needs are being offered during the last stages of illness, during the dying process and

during bereavement (grieving) process. The services are offered by medically directed interdisciplinary team

consisting of patient families, health care professionals and volunteers. Professional management and

continuation of care is maintained across multiple set-ups including homes, hospitals long term care and

residential settings.

Hospice started to exist during the 11th century, around 1065 in western Europe and later spread on to Roman.

• In 14th century the first hospice opened in Rhodes, Jerusalem aiming to give refuge to travelers and care for the ill and dying.

• In 19th century, modern concept of Hospice evolved which focused on the needs of the terminally ill.

• The concept is based on the needs for compassion for terminally ill patients and to help the address their fears and concerns as well pain relief on their physical symptoms.

• In Africa the first Hospice to be opened was in Zimbabwe, in the year 1980. It was then followed by one in South Africa in 1987.

• Later in 1990, Kenya opened one called Nairobi Hospice in Nairobi. Then in 1992, Uganda joined by opening Hospice Africa Uganda. By the year 2006, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda were among the 35 countries in the world offering well integrated palliative care.

RESEARCH ISSUE• Although death is a natural part of life, the thought of death still

frightens many people. And it is still against cultural taboos to have open discussion or communication about death among physicians or the wider population, discomfort with unfamiliar medical techniques, and professional callousness towards the terminally ill. Thus so little is known on how interior design can help eradicate fear and discomfort for people with terminal illness and help create peaceful tranquil environment for them and help them die with dignity.

• Worldwide Hospice facility buildings are being established through adaptation of existing buildings which most of the times cannot reach the complex, delicate requirements of a Hospice facility that exceed the ones that a residential house or hospital can provide. These building cannot accommodate the requirements of a Hospice facility so in the process of adaptation, the intervention of an Interior design is necessary to ensure that all the requirement are met. Thus the study aims at exploring interior design of Hospice facilities, analyzing and understanding them, finding the means at which they can be improved.

• Hospice care involves assistance for patients’ families to help them cope with caring the sick and provide care and support to keep the patient at home and manage other duties as well.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• To study and analyze interiors of Hospice facilities or related buildings.

• To identify potential and challenges of Hospice facilities.• To identify and analyze space requirement, finishes, and facilities

for Hospice facilities centers.• To formulate guidelines regarding Hospice facilities.

TABLE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

QUESTION RESPONDENT DATA COLLECTED

REMARKS

Is the patient room enough? Doctor Not enough, there is inadequate storage space for big equipment

Provide a quality room that address needs of patient with respect to local culture.

Are there specific requirements for the person with terminal illness

Doctor Yes, a place where they can get lots of peace of mind, rest and enough time to spend with their families

Provide a calm environment for meditation, peace, harmony-prayer/meditation space

How do you find the arrangement of the space?

Patient  Patient relative Patient’s relative   

The corridors are too longLack of enough sitting area at the receptionIt is difficult to find the main entrance during visit

Provide a resting space along the corridorProvision of enough sitting areaOrganize space for easy access and circulation

Do you feel comfortable at the room you are in?

Patient No, it has more of an institutional atmosphere

Create a space that integrate indoor with outdoor nature

RECOMENDATIONS

• Provide a quality room that address needs of patients and

relatives with respect to indigenous culture.

• Provide a tranquil environment that facilitate meditation, peace

and harmony

• Provide resting space along the corridor.

• Separate between in-patient and out-patient.

• Organize space for easy access and circulation.

• Create a space that is calm with indoor/outdoor integration with

nature.

EXISTING INTERIOR CONDITIONS

EXISTING FLOOR PLAN

EXISTING FLOOR PLAN