Establish and implement room design features

Rationale: Equipping rooms with enhanced safety features, internet access, and personalized touches, ensures dwelling units are comfortable and safe, supporting enhanced perceptions of dignity, safety, and social connectivity — contributing to positive mental health outcomes such as a lowered risk of depression and anxiety.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with the options below:

Option 1 - Room Design Features and Accessibility (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

1. Include a minimum of three of the following safety measures for bathrooms:

• utilize locks that can be easily accessible from outside
• install pocket doors or doors that open outward
• provide slip-resistant flooring
• install emergency pull-cords or call buttons in bathrooms
• install grab bars.

2. Include a minimum of one of the following features for living and sleeping areas:

• utilize levered door handles
• no steps in dwelling units (for assisted living and memory care facilities only).

3. Include a minimum of two of the following safety features for kitchens:

• provide slip-resistant flooring
• places the stove, sink, and refrigerator close together
• automatic shut-off features on stoves/ovens.

4. Ensure a room design that allows for space personalization (such as hanging framed pictures or artwork on walls, choice furniture placement, plants, etc.).

5. Provide the following amenities within each dwelling unit:

• access to the internet
• secure storage for valuable belongings.

6. Meet one of the following standards for bathroom design:

• the current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements in regards to toilet facilities
• ISO 21542: 2011 requirements for building construction, accessibility, and usability of the building environment in regards to toilet rooms and sanitary rooms.

Option 2 - Room Design Features (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

1. Include a minimum of three of the following safety measures for bathrooms:

• utilize locks that can be easily accessible from outside
• install pocket doors or doors that open outward
• provide slip-resistant flooring
• install emergency pull-cords or call buttons in bathrooms
• install grab bars.

2. Include a minimum of one of the following features for living and sleeping areas:

• utilize levered door handles
• no steps in dwelling units (for assisted living and memory care facilities only).

3. Include a minimum of two of the following safety features for kitchens:

• provide slip-resistant flooring
• places the stove, sink, and refrigerator close together
• automatic shut-off features on stoves/ovens.

4. Ensure a room design that allows for space personalization (such as hanging framed pictures or artwork on walls, choice furniture placement, plants, etc.).

5. Provide the following amenities within each dwelling unit:

• access to the internet
• secure storage for valuable belongings.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated design drawings
• Annotated photographs
• Certified statements