Humanistic Design of Assisted Living

by John P. Marsden

Overview

Assisted living, a relatively new industry, provides an alternative to traditional long-term care. These residences serve the increasing numbers of elders who need help with daily activities but wish to maintain independence. Although they are promoted as resident centered and noninstitutional, research based on consumer input indicates that many older adults and their family members do not find the buildings to be particularly friendly, warm, or supportive In Humanistic Design of Assisted Living, John P. Marsden has translated research-based information into innovative and practicable design strategies that directly address those unfavorable perceptions.

Marsden provides an overview of assisted living's evolution then addresses the current information resources available to designers. He discusses successful humanistic design and presents a conceptual framework, based on consumer-based research, composed of six themes: familiar housing cues, protective enclosure, caring cues, human scale, usability, and naturalness. He applied this framework to specific guidelines for building exteriors, interior entries, and common shared spaces. His recommendations are supported by photographs that demonstrate effective design strategies as well as some less-successful examples.

This comprehensive and accessible book presents essential design guidelines for housing owners, operators, administrators, policy makers, gerontologists, interior designers, and architects.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801880315
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	05/13/2005
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John P. Marsden is an associate professor and director of the interior architecture program at Chatham College. He contributed a chapter in Aging, Autonomy, and Architecture, available from Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Part I: Assisted Living
Chapter 1. An Overview of the Industry
Chapter 2. Design Resources for Assisted Living
Part II: Humanistic Design
Chapter 3. Design Guided by Research-Based Consumer Input
Chapter 4. Research-Based Conceptual Framework
Part III: Design Guidelines
Chapter 5. Building Exteriors
Chapter 6. Interior Entries
Chapter 7. Common Living Rooms
Chapter 8. Common Dining Rooms
Conclusion
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Benyamin Schwarz

"Marsden has provided professionals with an excellent guidebook for the design of assisted living housing by offering design guidelines grounded in input from consumers and research-based information for creating humane assisted living arrangements. A significant contribution to architects, planners, interior designers, landscape architects, and housing providers, as well as gerontologists, and nursing home and assisted living administrators."

From the Publisher

Marsden has provided professionals with an excellent guidebook for the design of assisted living housing by offering design guidelines grounded in input from consumers and research-based information for creating humane assisted living arrangements. A significant contribution to architects, planners, interior designers, landscape architects, and housing providers, as well as gerontologists, and nursing home and assisted living administrators.
—Benyamin Schwarz, University of Missouri-Columbia

Editorial Reviews

Marsden's HD guidelines will be useful to both owners and designers as an authoritative reference.
—Zachary Rosenfield, Care Management Journal

Should be of widespread interest to architects and care-home managers.
—Julienne Hanson, Ageing and Society

Should design professionals have John Marsden's book in their bookcase? Yes . . . The book provides a good overview of the industry at present and a good review of design resources for assisted living.
—Doris L. Milke, Journal of Housing for the Elderly

From the Publisher

Should design professionals have John Marsden's book in their bookcase? Yes . . . The book provides a good overview of the industry at present and a good review of design resources for assisted living.

Journal of Housing for the Elderly - Doris L. Milke

Marsden's HD guidelines will be useful to both owners and designers as an authoritative reference.

Care Management Journal - Zachary Rosenfield

Should be of widespread interest to architects and care-home managers.

Ageing and Society - Julienne Hanson

Should be of widespread interest to architects and care-home managers.

— Julienne Hanson

Ageing and Society

Marsden's HD guidelines will be useful to both owners and designers as an authoritative reference.

— Zachary Rosenfield

Care Management Journal