Study on Site Design of UK's Day Care Unit for Older People

Abstract

UKs day care services, including day hospital and day centre, have kept a very low profile in the sphere of health and welfare provision for older people. Day hospitals began somewhat earlier than day centers and originated in 1946 in psychiatric day hospitals in UK. Three sets of principles about user, staff and environment can be identified which have special significance for the design of the site of day care unit. Community care policies advocate that day services should be based in, and integrated with, the community, and easily accessible to local people. Day care unit depends on the design of the premises and their state of maintenance; these reflect providers' attitudes to the user group, and may convey a positive or negative impression of the service to the general public, including prospective users.