Boswijk nursing home

Enabling the elderly to lead their own lives in familiar surroundings with as few limitations as possible. That is one of the core values of the Van Neysel Group to which Boswijk belongs. An organisation that adapts to the client, not vice versa. This vision is clearly noticeable in the design for the nursing home for the elderly suffering from dementia.

Small village

In the middle of the woods, twelve houses are nestled together, connected by covered streets and squares. The complex is actually similar to a small village. The residential units all have a spacious dining room, a kitchen and a sitting room. Each resident also has his or her own lounge/bedroom on the ground floor that offers views of the park. Residents can retreat to their own rooms, but are also able to enter the garden directly from their patios.

Boswijk is more than a building… Boswijk is defined by its residents and staff.

Chico Leufkens, Architect, EGM Architects

Unique homely atmosphere

Boswijk has a total of five communal groups, housing a total of ten elderly residents each. The main symptoms the residents display are Alzheimer?s and dementia. These symptoms often result in sadness, anxiety and distress. The nursing home was designed and furnished in such a way that residents feel at home. The design took into account the wishes and needs of the residents. They can come and go wherever their abilities allow, but there is security where needed. Each residential unit has its ownunique living environment: a homely atmosphere that emulates the surroundings the resident was used to at home. Life is just like ?normal life?. Communal living with other residents is like having a large family in your own house, with your own front door and your own living environment.

Resident is main focus

The result is that the residents are at the heart of the building. A building in which perception, privacy, a sense of being at home, familiarity and safety all play a role. An environment where the care organisation is almost invisibly present and at the same time provides scope for the individual quality of life.

Evidence-based Design

The design is based on Evidence-based Design: for instance, there is maximum exposure to the outdoor living spaces, the walking distances for the communal groups on the ground floor have been taken into account and a reorganisation of job roles and group supervisors was implemented.

Awards

Nederlandse Bouwpluim 2011 - Nomination - Stimulating good cooperation in construction