On the ward - limited resources

This section of the Hospital Environment Audit Tool (HEAT) contains modules that look at how the environment in the ward spaces of a hospital meet older people’s needs and enable them to participate in their care.

There are four modules in this section:

• Rooms and bed bays
• Bathroom
• Communal spaces
• Lighting, signage and wayfinding

These audit modules are designed to be used when you have a limited budget and short timeframe. Interventions suggested are able to be undertaken with a small amount of money (if any) and in a short space of time. Please note – there are separate ward audit modules that are more comprehensive and suggest interventions that require a larger budget and a longer timeframe. They can be found in the section: On the ward.

The Communal spaces module contains some suggestions would take some budget and/or timeframe to implement, while some may be able to be changed quickly and with minimal budget.

The modules in this section are each expected to take between 15 minutes and 20 minutes to complete. The audit modules may be completed individually or as part of a broader audit of the ward or other parts of the facility. The modules are not designed to be used for major refurbishments or new builds.

Rooms and bed bays

This audit module is designed to look at patient rooms or bed bays.

The audit module is designed to be used when you have a limited budget and short timeframe. Interventions suggested are able to be undertaken with a small amount of money (if any) and in a short space of time. Please note – there is a separate ward audit module for rooms and bed bays that is more comprehensive and suggests interventions that require a larger budget and a longer timeframe. Neither are intended for major refurbishments or new builds.

You may use this audit module on its own or as part of an audit of other parts of the ward.

This audit module contains 16 questions and will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes to complete. It contains questions about orientation, safety and comfort.

Start the rooms and bed bays audit.

Bathrooms

This audit module is designed to look at bathrooms in a ward. It can be used for bathrooms with both a toilet and shower, or one or the other.

The audit module is designed to be used when you have a limited budget and short timeframe. The interventions suggested are able to be undertaken with a small amount of money (if any) and in a short space of time. Please note - there is a separate bathroom audit module that is more comprehensive and suggests interventions that require a larger budget and a longer timeframe. Neither are intended for major refurbishments or new builds.

You may use this audit module on its own or as part of an audit of other parts of the ward.

This audit module contains 16 questions and will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete all sections. It contains 7 general questions, plus an additional 5 questions for a toilet and additional 4 questions for a shower.

Start the bathroom audit.

Communal spaces

This audit module is designed to look at the communal spaces of a ward - the ward entrance, hallway areas, any shared spaces and wayfinding around the ward.

Some suggestions would take some budget and/or timeframe to implement, while some may be able to be changed quickly and with minimal budget. It is not intended for major refurbishments or new builds.

You may use this audit module on its own or as part of a broader audit of other parts of the ward.

This audit module contains 16 questions and will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

Start the communal spaces audit.

Lighting, signage and wayfinding

This audit module is designed to audit ward lighting, signage and wayfinding.

Wayfinding refers to all the ways in which people orientate themselves in a space and navigate their way from place to place. Older people need more wayfinding aids to assist orientation in a space and they need to be more obvious.

The audit module is designed to be used when you have a limited budget and short timeframe. Interventions suggested are able to be undertaken with a small amount of money (if any) and in a short space of time. Please note – there is a separate ward audit module for lighting, signage and wayfinding that is more comprehensive and suggests interventions that require a larger budget and a longer timeframe. Neither are intended for major refurbishments or new builds.

There is a separate audit module available for wayfinding in the ‘Facility audits’ section. You may also find some questions about lighting, signage and wayfinding in the other facility audit modules and the module ‘On the ward - communal spaces’.

You may utilise this audit module on its own or as part of a broader audit of other parts of the ward.

This audit module contains 12 questions and will take approximately 15 – 20 minutes to complete.

Start the wayfinding audit.