Why Hospice IPU Refurbishment Matters
Hospice inpatient units (IPUs) play a critical role in providing end-of-life care. A well-designed IPU can significantly impact the emotional and physical wellbeing of patients and their families. By focusing on comfort, dignity, and tranquillity, hospice refurbishments can transform care environments into spaces of healing and peace.
Key Ideas for Hospice IPU Refurbishment
1. Choose Warm, Soothing Colour Schemes
Move away from stark white and clinical greys. Instead, choose calming colours like soft sage, warm neutrals, or muted blues. These tones help establish a peaceful, homely atmosphere that promotes rest and relaxation, an essential consideration in any hospice IPU refurbishment.
2. Incorporate Ambient, Adjustable Lighting
Replace harsh overhead lights with dimmable fixtures and soft bedside lamps. Gentle lighting feels more homely and gives patients and families control over their environment, supporting a sense of calm and privacy.
3. Introduce Comfortable, Domestic-Style Furniture
Swap clinical furnishings for cosy armchairs, upholstered seating, and wooden finishes. Choose items you’d find in a living room rather than a hospital ward. Making this switch instantly shifts the tone of the space and should be a central element of your hospice IPU refurbishment.
4. Use Personal Photos and Artwork
Decorate the walls with art and photos that suit the residents’ needs. Calming nature scenes or local landmarks can make all the difference in comfort. Where possible, leave space for personal photos or family mementoes. These touches help patients feel connected to their own lives and identities.
5. Include Indoor Plants and Natural Materials
Houseplants, floral arrangements, and natural textures (like wood and linen) can all help soften the environment. If the layout allows, create small internal courtyards or garden-view seating areas to enhance the healing effect of nature.
6. Design Family-Friendly Areas
Ensure family members have comfortable spaces to rest, eat, and spend time with their loved ones. Kitchenettes, lounge corners, or even a private family room can offer much-needed comfort. These should always be considered in a modern hospice IPU refurbishment.
7. Create Spaces for Reflection and Quiet
Designate calm areas for reflection, reading, or silent contemplation. These might include soft seating, gentle lighting, and access to nature sounds or calming music, providing emotional support as much as physical comfort.
8. Improve Acoustics and Sound Privacy
Noise from machines, corridors, and other rooms can be distressing. Use acoustic panels, soft flooring, and heavier curtains to help absorb sound and create a more peaceful, private environment.
9. Use Thoughtful, Non-Clinical Signage
Avoid cold or institutional signage. Instead, use warm fonts, pastel colours, and wooden signs where possible. Wayfinding should be simple and comforting, in keeping with the homely design of your hospice IPU refurbishment.
10. Incorporate Calming Scents
Fragrance plays a powerful role in how we perceive a space. Avoid strong chemical smells and instead use diffusers with gentle essential oils like lavender or chamomile. A pleasant, familiar scent can instantly make a room feel more like home.
11. Blend in Discreet Technology
Technology can be helpful, but it shouldn’t dominate the space. Offer discreet power points, televisions with calming imagery, or tablets for communication, but keep these tools low-key and optional to maintain a sense of peace.
12. Reflect Local Culture and Identity
Use regional materials, artwork, and furnishings that reflect the local community. This personalises the space and helps patients feel more grounded and understood in their final days.
Summary
A well-planned hospice IPU refurbishment is about far more than fresh paint and new furniture. It’s about transforming the care environment into a place of comfort, humanity, and peace. By focusing on homely design and emotional wellbeing, hospices can offer not just care, but compassion, warmth, and dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hospice IPU refurbishment?
A hospice IPU refurbishment involves updating and redesigning inpatient units to create a more comfortable, homely, and dignified environment for patients and their families.
Why is homely design important in hospices?
Homely design helps patients feel more at ease, reduces stress, and promotes emotional wellbeing during challenging times.
How can lighting impact hospice environments?
Ambient and adjustable lighting can create a calming atmosphere, support privacy, and enhance the overall comfort of the space.
What role does local culture play in hospice design?
Incorporating local culture and identity into hospice design helps personalise the space and fosters a sense of connection and understanding for patients.
Can technology be integrated into hospice IPUs?
Yes, technology can be integrated discreetly to support communication, entertainment, and convenience without disrupting the homely atmosphere.
