Sanitariums

Sanitariums are medical facilities designed for the long-term care and convalescence of patients. The term is historical and in many places has been replaced by sanatorium or by more modern hospital and rehabilitation facilities; however, sanitarium remains in common use in some regions and in historical contexts.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, sanitariums proliferated in Europe and North America, often located in mountain or seaside climates believed to aid recovery. They typically admitted people with chronic illnesses, especially tuberculosis, and offered extended stays under medical supervision.

Core therapies emphasized at the time included rest, generous nutrition, outdoor exposure, and graded activity, with architectural designs featuring sunlit wards and verandas to maximize air and light.

After the mid-20th century, antibiotics reduced the need for long-term TB care, and many sanitariums were repurposed as general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or hotels; others closed. Today the term persists mainly in historical references and in the names of health resorts or legacy institutions.