An exploratory study of visitation shelters for long-term care homes

Abstract

The province of Manitoba provided 88 long-term care (LTC) homes with 105 external visitation shelters to facilitate resident visits during the pandemic. Shipping containers were fitted with finishes, furnishing and ventilation systems, and connected to LTC homes. This research was conducted using document analysis, government communications, surveys, and field measurements to learn about the visitation shelters related to their: design, implementation, performance, and user experiences. Media and government information provided many details on design/implementation considerations, utilization rates, and challenges. User surveys revealed that shelters made a difference but were institutional/sterile and not conducive to supporting meaningful connections. All data indicated that the shelters were under-utilized. Field measurements indicated substantial air exchange, but high ventilation-associated noise. The lighting colour was appropriate, but lighting levels were relatively low. This study describes the advantages and disadvantages of using external visitation shelters during a pandemic to facilitate LTC visits while attempting to prevent infection.