When faced with the challenge of refurbishing an existing Hospice to accommodate four specialist palliative care beds, I realised that I needed professional interior design help to ensure that what was created maximised the space and rate of return for the donated monies.
To ensure this goal was achieved the environment needed to reflect what the wider community deserved and had waited for so long.
We needed to create an environment that was soothing and restful, a home away from home. The environment, its furnishings, colours and fabrics needed to reflect the personalised care that we provide not a clinical sterile environment. It needed to incorporate the flow between the gardens, the rooms and the patients, their families and the staff providing the care. Coming together to create an atmosphere that brought a sense of calm and peace at such a critical and often painful time in people’s lives.
Amanda Hookham of Regenesis Design was invited to join our team to ensure that we achieve this goal.
Amanda met with us, listened to our stories and how we wanted the environment to reflect the very best of care for patients and their families. She guided us, provided options and encouraged stimulating conversations to enable us to think about what we wanted and how this might be achieved. She took us into creative spaces that we may never have gone to if she was not a part of the team. She is intuitive to the needs of the environment and the people it serves. She researches and offers options so sound decisions can be made.
The end result was that as a team we created a soothing, welcoming peaceful environment. It is practical and meets the needs of ensuring the very best of Specialist Palliative care can be provided in a safe and nurturing environment. Colour, look and feel helps us to significantly achieve this and all within budget.
Barbara Williams, CEO, Hospice West Auckland, January 2016