The Family Caregiver Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) was created as a place where caregivers and family members can get away for a time from the stresses of dealing with a family member in the hospital.
Renovated in 2014, the Family Caregiver Center was created to meet caregiver’s needs and provide resources. Having a loved one in the hospital can be very stressful, and the Center helps combat the emotional and physical stress that comes with balancing a caregiver’s everyday life and work with caring for someone who is hospitalized.
HUP wanted to design a space that focused on the family caregiver, offering a healing environment with a library of resources and trained volunteers that are familiar with the trials and tribulations of caring for a hospitalized loved one. The Center was made to be a place of respite and relaxation, with massage chairs, soothing music, aromatherapy and privacy. Most importantly, HUP wanted to provide these unpaid caregivers with a supportive and quiet environment, complete with refreshments, phones, computers and chargers all free of charge.
In order to fulfill HUP’s desired design, Charles Matsinger Associates relied on nature-themed elements in the space to give it a warm, earthy feel. A subdued color scheme adds to the sense of quietness in the space. Dimmers allow light levels to be reduced and the wooden ceiling in the main space adds a feeling of warmth and nature to the suite.
For more information, please visit the Penn Medicine / Hospital of University of Pennsylvania website’s page on the Family Caregiver Center here.
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