How will Kingston Care? Designing for better health outcomes

Seniors have outnumbered children in Kingston, Ontario, since 2008. The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area 2017 Vital Signs report projected that the 65+ age cohort would rise to 27% of Kingston’s population by 2026. (CFKA, 2017) Among the many implications that Kingston’s aging population brings is an increased need for health care services. (Statistics Canada, 2024) The demand comes amidst a nation-wide staffing crisis in the healthcare sector that has already impacted the ability of Kingston to meet the needs of its population. Both public and private long-term care facilities have lengthy waitlists, and the city’s two main hospitals are sometimes forced to accommodate individuals waiting for long-term care in acute-care settings. (Schliesmann, 2016) While a wealth of research has made the connection between exposure to nature and mental wellbeing (Cameron et. al., 2020; Grinde, 2009; Hunt, 2022; Verderber, 1987), Ulrich (1984) identified its potential physical benefits when he found that post-operative patients who had views of nature required less potent pain management and recovered more quickly. As it becomes increasingly necessary for Kingston to invest in expanding its health-care infrastructure, the city is presented with an opportunity to create environments of care that incorporate holistic approaches to health through every stage of life, enhance patient care experiences and promote community wellbeing. By exploring global innovations in health architecture that use evidence based design, this paper seeks to build a frame of reference for a future of better care in the city of Kingston.