‘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

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Thank you

www.starlight.org.au