Presentation
HE4 - Campus to Community Partnerships Advancing Design in Long-Term Care
Description“Long-term care homes are residential homes that provide ongoing care to patients whose care needs cannot be met in the community. People may require this level of support due to advancing age, disability, or declining health” (Ontario Government, 2023).
A significant gap in healthcare design
Over the past 5 years, undergraduate and graduate students from Carleton University’s School of Industrial Design have been working on different facets of Long-Term Care (LTC) design. Working with Ontario’s Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI), Professor Chantal Trudel and the CLRI recognized a significant gap in research that explored the role of human factors and design in Long-Term Care. An early literature review for example revealed that little work had been done to support end-of-life and palliative care in LTC settings (Schwellnus, Trudel & Orosz, 2021). The pandemic also revealed extensive weaknesses in the design of LTC homes (Rochon et al., 2022). It became clear that no one design field held the answers to move the needle on the fulsome changes required to improve the quality of life of LTC residents, the experience of their care partners and the health and safety of LTC workers. The gap in ‘design attention’ goes beyond the design of LTC homes to include various systemic aspects of the sector including service design, product design, work design, information design, the design of assistive/ambient technologies and more.
In collaboration with the Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at Bruyère, and partner LTC homes we have developed a concentrated and more sustained approach to help address the gap in Long Term Care design through the formation of the Design for Public Health (D4pH) Lab. Since 2018, there have been 12 students that have worked on design to support Long-Term Care, 4 of which have led to thesis dissertations, and various other public dissemination of the work. The D4pH Lab also focuses on other areas of public health design including children’s health and wellness, aging in place and abilities design. From an environmental scan of comparative labs, we believe this initiative is the only lab that has taken a more comprehensive or systemic human factors approach to LTC design.
The importance of taking a human factors approach in Long-Term Care design
In this poster presentation, we will present a human factors diagram outlining how Carleton students have explored and attempted to address critical concerns within the design of Ontario’s LTC sector covering various systemic aspects of design (e.g., service, work, interiors, architecture, product, information and technology). This systems diagram will be further supported with narratives on each project, design diagrams and design concepts developed by the students with associated QR codes to point audience members to the more in-depth studies for further review. Some examples of work that will be profiled on the poster include:
(1) An investigation of how the pandemic shaped the work experiences of Ontario LTC staff and a novel information prototype that was developed to convey the data and stories that were collected (Clark, 2022).
(2) A study analyzing the complexity and challenges associated with advanced care planning during the transition process of community residents to Ontario LTC homes and accompanying service design models to support identified, needed change (Thomas, 2023).
(3) A study investigating the experiences of spiritual care service providers in Ontario LTC homes and ensuing spiritual care service models developed with participants (Nakashima, 2022).
(4) An in-depth case study on an Ontario LTC home investigating the impact of the home’s design on dignified and safe continence care practices, accompanied by product and interior design concepts for change (Abdou, 2023).
(5) The latest emerging work from current students focusing on various aspects of LTC design.
These projects were formed by students working in collaboration with LTC community members to bridge the LTC-related knowledge of community partners through various design fields, with the aim of providing practical and actionable recommendations to be implemented to improve the quality of LTC homes and other aspects of the system. The development of the D4pH Lab has been a significant step towards building a dedicated space that fosters a more community-based, sustainable, long-view approach for immersing students within this complex area of design. Over time, we have seen recognition for the lab developing with students interested in designing with and for elders and persons with disabilities seeking out participation in the team. Working with our LTC community partners allows provides students with experiential learning opportunities to explore the complexity of the LTC system and a supportive environment to challenge existing approaches, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the field. We have also developed longer-term collaborations with our community partners who continue to work with students on different projects that are important to their quality improvement initiatives.
Apart from the impact on students and community partners, our research has directly contributed to the development of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) CSA Z8004:22, Long-term care home operations and infection prevention and control and CSA Z8000 Canadian health care facilities standards. Professor Trudel actively participates as a technical subcommittee member, ensuring that our work has a tangible impact on industry standards and practices.
In conclusion, we feel the Design for Public Health Lab is at the forefront of innovation and change in LTC home design, fostering an environment where creativity, collaboration, and dedication converge to create spaces that genuinely prioritize the health and quality of life of LTC residents and their caregivers, and working staff. We look forward to the opportunity to share with the HFES audience how a human factors approach has accelerated much needed systemic design work in this sector.
References
Abdou, S. (2023). The Design of Long-Term Care Homes : Dignity and Safety in Continence Care. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2023.
Clark, D. (2022). Long-Term Care Worker Experience during the Pandemic : Explorations in Visual Storytelling. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2022.
Government of Ontario. (2023). Long-Term Care. Available at : https://healthcareathome.ca/long-term-care/
Nakashima, S. H. S. (2022). Spirituality and Service Design : Supporting Spiritual Care in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2022.
Rochon, P.A., Li, J.M., Johnstone, J., et al. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on long-term care homes: Five lessons learned. Science Briefs of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table;3(60). https://doi.org/10.47326/ocsat.2022.03.60.1.0
Schwellnus, M., Trudel, C., & Orosz, Z. (2021). Can We Use Design Approaches to Increase Comfort and Reduce Suffering at End-of-Life: A Focused Literature Review. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, 10(1), 324-330. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857921101234
Thomas, M. C. (2023). Understanding the Experience of Advance Care Planning for Older Adults Transitioning into Long-Term Care Homes. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2023.
A significant gap in healthcare design
Over the past 5 years, undergraduate and graduate students from Carleton University’s School of Industrial Design have been working on different facets of Long-Term Care (LTC) design. Working with Ontario’s Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI), Professor Chantal Trudel and the CLRI recognized a significant gap in research that explored the role of human factors and design in Long-Term Care. An early literature review for example revealed that little work had been done to support end-of-life and palliative care in LTC settings (Schwellnus, Trudel & Orosz, 2021). The pandemic also revealed extensive weaknesses in the design of LTC homes (Rochon et al., 2022). It became clear that no one design field held the answers to move the needle on the fulsome changes required to improve the quality of life of LTC residents, the experience of their care partners and the health and safety of LTC workers. The gap in ‘design attention’ goes beyond the design of LTC homes to include various systemic aspects of the sector including service design, product design, work design, information design, the design of assistive/ambient technologies and more.
In collaboration with the Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) at Bruyère, and partner LTC homes we have developed a concentrated and more sustained approach to help address the gap in Long Term Care design through the formation of the Design for Public Health (D4pH) Lab. Since 2018, there have been 12 students that have worked on design to support Long-Term Care, 4 of which have led to thesis dissertations, and various other public dissemination of the work. The D4pH Lab also focuses on other areas of public health design including children’s health and wellness, aging in place and abilities design. From an environmental scan of comparative labs, we believe this initiative is the only lab that has taken a more comprehensive or systemic human factors approach to LTC design.
The importance of taking a human factors approach in Long-Term Care design
In this poster presentation, we will present a human factors diagram outlining how Carleton students have explored and attempted to address critical concerns within the design of Ontario’s LTC sector covering various systemic aspects of design (e.g., service, work, interiors, architecture, product, information and technology). This systems diagram will be further supported with narratives on each project, design diagrams and design concepts developed by the students with associated QR codes to point audience members to the more in-depth studies for further review. Some examples of work that will be profiled on the poster include:
(1) An investigation of how the pandemic shaped the work experiences of Ontario LTC staff and a novel information prototype that was developed to convey the data and stories that were collected (Clark, 2022).
(2) A study analyzing the complexity and challenges associated with advanced care planning during the transition process of community residents to Ontario LTC homes and accompanying service design models to support identified, needed change (Thomas, 2023).
(3) A study investigating the experiences of spiritual care service providers in Ontario LTC homes and ensuing spiritual care service models developed with participants (Nakashima, 2022).
(4) An in-depth case study on an Ontario LTC home investigating the impact of the home’s design on dignified and safe continence care practices, accompanied by product and interior design concepts for change (Abdou, 2023).
(5) The latest emerging work from current students focusing on various aspects of LTC design.
These projects were formed by students working in collaboration with LTC community members to bridge the LTC-related knowledge of community partners through various design fields, with the aim of providing practical and actionable recommendations to be implemented to improve the quality of LTC homes and other aspects of the system. The development of the D4pH Lab has been a significant step towards building a dedicated space that fosters a more community-based, sustainable, long-view approach for immersing students within this complex area of design. Over time, we have seen recognition for the lab developing with students interested in designing with and for elders and persons with disabilities seeking out participation in the team. Working with our LTC community partners allows provides students with experiential learning opportunities to explore the complexity of the LTC system and a supportive environment to challenge existing approaches, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the field. We have also developed longer-term collaborations with our community partners who continue to work with students on different projects that are important to their quality improvement initiatives.
Apart from the impact on students and community partners, our research has directly contributed to the development of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) CSA Z8004:22, Long-term care home operations and infection prevention and control and CSA Z8000 Canadian health care facilities standards. Professor Trudel actively participates as a technical subcommittee member, ensuring that our work has a tangible impact on industry standards and practices.
In conclusion, we feel the Design for Public Health Lab is at the forefront of innovation and change in LTC home design, fostering an environment where creativity, collaboration, and dedication converge to create spaces that genuinely prioritize the health and quality of life of LTC residents and their caregivers, and working staff. We look forward to the opportunity to share with the HFES audience how a human factors approach has accelerated much needed systemic design work in this sector.
References
Abdou, S. (2023). The Design of Long-Term Care Homes : Dignity and Safety in Continence Care. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2023.
Clark, D. (2022). Long-Term Care Worker Experience during the Pandemic : Explorations in Visual Storytelling. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2022.
Government of Ontario. (2023). Long-Term Care. Available at : https://healthcareathome.ca/long-term-care/
Nakashima, S. H. S. (2022). Spirituality and Service Design : Supporting Spiritual Care in Ontario Long-Term Care Homes. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2022.
Rochon, P.A., Li, J.M., Johnstone, J., et al. (2022). The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on long-term care homes: Five lessons learned. Science Briefs of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table;3(60). https://doi.org/10.47326/ocsat.2022.03.60.1.0
Schwellnus, M., Trudel, C., & Orosz, Z. (2021). Can We Use Design Approaches to Increase Comfort and Reduce Suffering at End-of-Life: A Focused Literature Review. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, 10(1), 324-330. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857921101234
Thomas, M. C. (2023). Understanding the Experience of Advance Care Planning for Older Adults Transitioning into Long-Term Care Homes. Thesis (M.Des.) - Carleton University, 2023.
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 254:45pm - 6:15pm CDT
LocationSalon C
Digital Health
Simulation and Education
Hospital Environments
Medical and Drug Delivery Devices
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives