Great Design Proven to Enhance the Lives of Our Ageing
Owner-Operated Kimberley Aged Care appointed SPH architecture + interiors to design additions and alterations for improving their amenities and outdoor access for their residents. "Even in the new normal of Coronavirus, the residents can now enjoy the beautiful Autumn weather, do some veggie gardening, play games or enjoy a cup of coffee," – said project lead Lisa Hunt.
The Aged Care Royal Commission in late 2019 gave organisations the opportunity to reassess how they deliver services to their clients. This extends to the physical environment within which services are delivered and this, in turn is affected by the quality of design. Good design is essentially human-centric and enables people to do their best work and be their best selves. Great design is relevant in the aged care sector now more than ever.
When the industry moved to consumer directed care in 2015, design came to the forefront and has emerged as a vehicle for aged care providers to differentiate themselves. A service providers reputation and great design are interlinked, and we all know how first impressions count.Dementia is estimated to cost Australia more than $15 billion a year. By 2025, the total cost of dementia is predicted to increase from $18.7 billion to more than $36.8 billion by 2056.Dementia is the single greatest cause of disability in older Australians (aged 65 years or older) and the third leading cause of disability burden overall.People with dementia account for 52% of all residents in residential aged care facilities making it more important than ever to design dementia appropriate facilities that enable and accommodate residents with dementia.With this in mind the SPH design team have incorporated activity boards and a graphic mural into the design to assist in improving their quality of life, allowing them to age successfully.
Used as an aid to increase physical activity the activity boards and murals are known to increase wellbeing and memory stimulation.The rear garden re-design includes a new shade structure with dementia friendly paving, a raised garden bed and furniture. There is also the addition of activity boards “noughts + crosses” an abacus and garden shed, and tool shed fiddle board for continual memory engagement and movement.
The dementia friendly paving gently guides residents to safe places without visual barriers or risk of slips and trips.The Activity room has new highlight glazed louvres providing abundant fresh air ventilation, new furniture and new lighting to brighten the space. Furniture with a distinct residential aesthetic adds familiarity for residents in a room that can often be foreign and unfamiliar.
The Alfresco area has been completely re-visioned with a pergola, raised garden beds, synthetic turf and direct access from the refurbished Dining Room. Demolition of the heavy masonry walls and curtained windows that provided little or no natural light have been replaced with full height glazed wall with sliding doors allowing residents to move freely from dining to alfresco enjoying the lighter space and visual connectivity to the outdoors while they dine.With unlimited access to the Alfresco area during daylight hours, residents have a safe place to enjoy the outdoors in a social setting.
The mural imagery will highlight some of Perth’s mostmemorable places to engage and stimulate the residents and encourage memory wellness and wellbeing.Additional design work includes:• Refurbished bathrooms with new vanities.• A refurbished reception, waiting and administration areas which was completed almost 18 months ago.SPH architecture + interiors have a specialist aged care and dementia design team ready to help.
Our aged care expert Jamie Penn is available for interviews.
Contact: Amanda HoughtonMango
PR – 0418908350 amanda@mangopr.com.au
