‘Space’ Matters: Creating Starlight Express Rooms
Felicity McMahon, Head of ProgramsElizabeth Kelly-Dalgety, Research and
Evaluation Dr Ralph Hampson, Research and
Evaluation
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Design is about making things good (and then better) and right (and fantastic) for the people who use and encounter them — Matt Beale.
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Who we are?The Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight) provides a range of programs for seriously ill and hospitalised children, young people and their families, including:
– Captain Starlight– Starlight Express Rooms– Starlight TV – Wish granting– Livewire.org.au – Livewire in hospital– Community Outreach (NT)
Focus of this presentation:
Starlight Express Rooms (SER) are located in 7 paediatric hospitals in Australia.
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What is a Starlight Express Room?
State-of-the-art, multimedia entertainment and distraction rooms
Encompass a range of arts, entertainment and recreational activities
Provide a medical-free space
Facilitated by Captain Starlight, volunteers and Livewire Facilitators
Incorporates Starlight TV which broadcasts movies and live shows from the SER to children and young people on the wards
Opens between 5-7 days per week with the majority opening between 10am-4pm daily
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Who uses the SER?
Inpatients: from toddlers through to young adults
– Medical conditions vary
Outpatients
Siblings and friends of the patients
Parents
Starlight team: Captain Starlight, Livewire Facilitators and volunteers, Hospital Program Manager
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Starlight Express Rooms
Assist in the reduction of loneliness and isolation for children and young people in hospital
Accommodate the different developmental needs of children and young people
Are inclusive and supportive of the whole family
Connect patients and their families with others
Provide free activities for children and young people
Provide a platform to reach out to children on the wards who cannot physically come to the SER through Starlight TV and Ward Rounds
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A conceptual model of the effects of children’s physical environments on child health outcomes
Reference: Sherman, S. A. Shepley, M. M., & Varni, J. W. (2005). Children’s Environments and Health –Related Quality of Life: Evidence Informing Paediatric Healthcare Environmental Design. Children, Youth and Environments 15(1), 188-223.
Physical Environment
• Nature• Noise• Crowding
(social and spatial)
• Art/Decorations
• Lighting• Temperature• Music
Environmental
Satisfaction• Subjective
appraisal of environment
• Feeling of control over the environment
Health Outcomes
• Physical• Psychological• Emotional• Cognitive• Behavioural• Social
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SER at the Women’s And Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
First SER opened at the Children’s Hospital Camperdown in 1991
SER at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide opened in 2011
This was the first build in many years with the design influenced by:
– A review of the research on the impact of hospital and indoor play spaces on children’s wellbeing
– Needs Analysis interviews with young people, parents and health professionals
– Feedback from a national survey of SERsFirst multi-purpose space catering for children during the day, and a space exclusively for young people in the evenings
Let’s take a look …
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Video
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Then and Now
Previous SERs WCH SER• Tunnel entrance • Shop front
• Use of primary colours • Use of calming colours
• Outer-space themes • Themes of nature
• One centralised activity space
• Dedicated activity spaces
• Standard lighting • LED lighting
• Standardised hospital flooring
• Nature themed floor approved by hospital
• Standard finishing • Need specific finishes, e.g. Use of patterned vinyl decals on walls to create a line of vision.
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TV screen advertising daily
events
Open ‘shop front’ to encourage families to
enter
Display window to show case
children’s art work and monthly
themes
Enclosed working and multi-media areas
Large windows to allow for natural light
and viewing of activities
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Vine leaf patterns to provide line of sight (safety) without
being obtrusive
Movable furniture for
ease of wheelchair
access
Display area for art work
Pebbled garden path – emulate
nature; encourage focus on
destination
State-of-the-art, arts facilities to
support participant and staff
engagement in activities
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LED lighting to add excitement and
mediate ‘atmosphere’ in the
Room
Flooring durable and inspired by
nature
Use of wood paneling to add
‘warmth’ / ‘homeliness’ to
the space
Seating designed to adapt to a multitude of activities
and support ‘nature’ theme
Screens and cupboards
built into the walls
Lockable office and kitchenette
out of view of the Room
State-of-the-art in gaming
technology
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Our experience and incorporation into the WCH SER, Adelaide:
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTION RESPONSE
Adaptable/Flexible space to accommodate a variety of activities
• Fixed items are embedded into the walls, remaining items can be easily moved or stored out of sight, e.g. retractable stage
Disability Access • Accommodates wheelchairs, medical equipment, e.g. IV drips, beds
• Creation of open spaces and ample room around portable furnishings
Supports interactive art activities; opportunity to display work; storage
• Designated arts and crafts glassed room.• Display window to show case visitors work. • Storage facilities available across three
walls. • Surface of cupboards designed to support
and highlight art work
Colour that emulates positivity and fun
• LED lighting system to randomly change colour
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Our experience
FEEDBACK/SUGGESTION RESPONSE
Noise Management • Use of sound absorbing materials
Access to elements of nature, including if possible, an outside view
• Interior design emulating elements of nature, e.g. cloud and wood panelling
• View though front windows onto courtyard.
Flexible lighting to support a range of activities
• Strength of lighting controllable• Access to natural light available
Use of technology in new and innovative ways
• State-of-the -art technology and multi-media and gaming facilities
• LED lightning to facilitate ‘atmosphere’ of room
• TV screen at entrance promoting activities
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Snapshot Review – what did we learn?
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Snapshot Review – what did we learn?
Visitors were able to move freely and safely
Separate activity spaces supported immersement in designated activities
All children and adolescent visitors participated in activities
Parents engaged with, or supported involvement of their child in activities
Younger children (under 7) were more likely to engage in arts-based activities
Preteens and adolescents engaged with the gaming facilities.
Easily adapted to accommodate needs of visitors with a disability
Noise levels can be adjusted to accommodate children’s needs
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Snapshot Review – what did we learn?
Staff/volunteers:
Active in supporting children, young people and parents to participate in activities
Adapted and worked within the space to engage a range of age appropriate and cognitive needs
Collaborated with other hospital departments e.g. educational services
Visitors:
Seating design and flexibility encouraged interaction amongst visitors
Children:
Participated and were immersed in in a range of activities of their choosing
Visibly agitated parents calmed down
Encouraged and supported to engage activities that extend their skill set
Interacted with family members – supported by the use of electronic or logic games
Parents talked positively about their experience and made plans to return
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Snapshot review – what did we learn?
Staff/volunteers indicated high levels of satisfaction with their personal and visitor engagement
Staff/volunteers did not identify structural and interior aspects of the WCH SER they would like changed
Minor ‘tweaking’ of the space - suggestions focused predominately on improving the capacity to display and store large art projects
What next?
Building upon our experience and evidence base we continue to evolve the SER design