Steps towards an acoustical intervention in a nursing home for the benefit of residents and staff: A case study
E.R.C.M. Huisman, N.H.A.M. van Hout, J. Reinten, H.S.M. Kort
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AbstractPurpose： In this case study, the focus is laid on the acoustical climate as potential indoor environmental aspect that contributes to organisations’ ambition and real estate strategy. Currently, it is unknown how corporate real estate managers or facility managers can use functionalities in the physical environment to support their real estate strategy. This study is part of a larger project on how the indoor environment (light, indoor air and acoustics) affects the well-being of healthcare professionals and quality of life of older people with a frail health condition. The aim of this case study is to describe the steps in order to make the optimum real estate decision based on the best available evidence for the acoustical climate in nursing homes to add value for their users. Method： Two locations (A and B) of a nursing home organisation were selected to execute the following steps (1) acoustic measurements, (2) interviews with healthcare professionals before the intervention, (3) the development and realization of an acoustic intervention, and (4) an evaluation of the intervention via acoustic measurements and interviews. Results & Discussion： The acoustic measurement showed a difference in the averaged reverberation time and background noise levels measured at location A and B. All healthcare professionals mentioned that the room acoustics at both locations were acceptable. However, the healthcare professionals at location B mentioned they experienced the living rooms as acoustically hard, which implies a relatively long reverberation time. Therefore, the intervention was conducted in one of the living rooms at location B. The evaluation of the intervention showed a decrease of 50% in reverberation time and a 0.12 increase of the speech transmission index. The healthcare professionals (location B) remarked that they felt more comfortable and less tired and according to the professionals, the residents seemed more comfortable in the living room at location B. The findings show that an intervention to enhance the acoustical climate in nursing homes, has a positive effect on healthcare professionals and residents. In this case, the decision was made by the board members of the organisation to renovate all living rooms at that particular location aligned with the chosen intervention.Keywords: facility management, corporate real estate management, health, speech intelligibility, sound sources
E.R.C.M. Huisman, N.H.A.M. van Hout, J. Reinten, H.S.M. Kort (2017). Steps towards an acoustical intervention in a nursing home for the benefit of residents and staff: A case study. Gerontechnology, 16(4), 249-256
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2017.16.4.007.00