Ferrier Baudet Architects

Catherine attended the conference at the Gold Coast this week and particularly enjoyed the session on:

“Designing for the Future –

Will Boomers demand revolution or more of the same?”

Julie McStay from Hynes Lawyers presented her summary of implications from the Productivity Report which if adopted will allow more possibilities for development of aged care facilities. Her main points were:

• That there will be no distinction been low care and high care
• No Extra Services
• The removal of restrictions on bed licenses
• Mechanisms will be in place to access equity
• Mechanisms will be in place to preserve the family home
• Increased accommodation charges will occur
• Bonds will be at the cost of supply

She also stated that there would be increased opportunities in the community care sector and that providers may find this as a source of income. Julie also spoke about the challenge of providing affordable housing. There is limited stock, and with some of the incentives around we hope more providers may take up the option of building affordable housing for the aged.

The next presentation was from Guy Luscombe from Rice Daubney Architects in Sydney. Guy’s presentation focused on the qualities of a ‘home’.  He talked about the necessity of ‘good bones’ for a building to allow a place to be created that residents can feel comfortable in, rather than impose an design aesthetic that is not “true” to the site and its purpose. As Guy so aptly said, ’Design is the key!” and “housing for the elderly should be seen as a step up, rather than a step down.”

 We, of course, wholeheartedly agree we are pleased to see the industry gradually placing more importance on good design.

As one of our clients said:

The final speaker in this segment was Lee Chin, who talked about her research on the resident’s perspective on design. Her sensitive presentation touched on the ‘loss’ experienced by residents of aged care facilities. Loss of youth, loss of choice, privacy, independence, memory, status, contact and that by offering choice in the day to day rituals, some sense of control and simultaneously a sense of self could be offered back.  She emphasized that some sense of mastery over one’s space was important.

An environment that supports the various functions that are required as well as gives a sense of wellbeing will go a long way in offering that choice potential.

In our practice, we believe that if we can support the staff by designing in all the support they need to make their work flow seamlessly, then they are freed up to care for the resident in a more meaningful way. In other words, an environment that avoids double handling, that has a place for everything, that eliminates the need for repetitive actions such as twisting, reaching and bending, will remove the physical difficulties associated with caring, and in turn allow the carer to focus more on the emotional care needs.