Reimagining Residential Aged Care

The Australian Government is making positive changes to aged care

These reforms will improve aged care in Australia now and into the future. Our vision is to deliver the highest quality care for older people, where and when they need it.

Everyone deserves to feel at home where they live and receive the best care. We have introduced the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines to help aged care providers and designers to consider practical improvements to aged care homes when upgrading or building residential aged care accommodation. These guidelines encourage independence, function and enjoyment for residents, and create safe workplaces that support staff in the delivery of high-quality care.

We have consulted extensively with:

• older people, including those living with dementia, their families and carers
• the aged care sector
• design and technical experts
• health professionals and regulatory bodies. We received feedback which helped us to improve and finalise the principles and guidelines – to plan the best care for older people in Australia.

Our consultation activities included: •

• releasing 2 discussion papers and a design survey
• running targeted consultations and focus groups
• a national workshop
• seeking input from aged care providers about the current design of their residential aged care accommodation
• releasing the draft guidelines and an online feedback form
• running a design ideas competition.

The principles and guidelines move away from old design settings, towards familiar and supportive environments for residents. There are four principles which follow the experience of residents from their immediate environment to their wider living environment, the outdoors and connection with community. Each principle is supported by a set of guidelines.

PRINCIPLE 1: ENABLE THE PERSON

We want people to live in a space that maintains their health, wellbeing and sense of identity. The guidelines that support this principle apply to all areas of an aged care home. It promotes design that supports good health, easy movement and meaning for older people. An example of this principle in action would be making sure toilets are easy to find, use and are a good size.

PRINCIPLE 2: CULTIVATE A HOME

Spaces should feel familiar and give people a sense of privacy, control and belonging. This principle shows the benefits of small home models on a person’s health and wellbeing. An example of this principle
in action is decorating bedrooms and living areas with items from people’s lives, with each resident having their own bedroom and private bathroom.

PRINCIPLE 3: ACCESS TO OUTDOORS

We want to support people seeing and spending time outdoors. This principle highlights the benefits of time spent in nature. An example of this principle in action is providing safe and accessible outdoor spaces that support meaningful activity. This could be gardens or balconies.

PRINCIPLE 4: CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY

Family and friends are incredibly important for emotional wellbeing, and we want to encourage people
to connect with community. The final principle promotes opportunities for residents to connect with the community to reduce feelings of isolation. This could be through amenities like shops and cafes inside or near the aged care home, that are visible from the street. This would allow the community and residents to come together to share spaces.

Design competition: Reimagining where we live

The Reimagining Where We Live design ideas competition launched in October 2023. We invited architects and designers to use the draft Principles and Guidelines to design aged care homes in hypothetical urban and regional places. The aim was to show how the Principles and Guidelines can be applied to achieve ‘good design’ that supports improved quality of life and wellbeing for older people and better working environments for aged care staff. Entrants were encouraged to challenge old design settings and show how designs can influence positive lifestyle opportunities for older people.

Competition entries were judged by an expert jury with diverse experiences in architecture, design and aged care.

The jury also received valuable feedback on the shortlisted designs from 6 advisers who are living with dementia. The winning entries were announced in May 2024. To see the results, visit health.gov.au/reimagining- where-we-live.

Let’s change aged care together

Thousands of people have been working to shape the reforms so far through surveys, webinars, online workshops, consultation papers and face-to-face events.

There are plenty of opportunities for you to have your say about the changes to aged care:

• Sign up to receive EngAged, our monthly newsletter for older people, their families and carers:
  health.gov.au/aged- care-newsletter-subscribe
• Visit the Aged Care Engagement Hub to find out about the latest consultation opportunities and outcomes: AgedCareEngagement. health.gov.au/get- involved
• Follow the Council of Elders on Facebook: facebook. com/groups/ AgedCareCouncilOfElders
• Talk with us in person at one of the upcoming events around Australia that we’re attending, including:
• Care Expo Brisbane Brisbane, QLD 6-7 September 2024
• Illawarra Dementia Forum Fairy Meadow, NSW 25 September 2024
• COTA ACT Seniors Expo Kingston, ACT 24-25 September 2024
• Celebration Day Melbourne, VIC 6 October 2024
• Disability, Ageing and Lifestyle Expo Adelaide Wayville, SA 11-12 October 2024
• Have a Go Day Perth, WA 13 November 2024
• Care Expo Sydney Sydney, NSW 15-16 November 2024

The Aged Care Council of Elders

The Council of Elders is a group of older people from diverse backgrounds with lived experiences of ageing and aged
care. They help to improve the aged care system by informing older people about the changes to aged care and providing advice to the government about aged care reform and ageing well.

Members like James (Jim) Carey bring lived insight to the council. Jim’s passion for aged care advocacy started when he began caring for his wife and navigating the home care system. Jim now lives in an aged care home and uses this experience to help older people in aged care homes have a say.

Find out more and contact the Council of Elders: here or on Facebook.