Older people, aged care providers, design experts and those involved in aged care construction and refurbishment projects are invited to provide feedback on the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines.
In response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the guidelines have been developed with older people, their families and carers, the aged care sector and design experts to improve the design of residential aged care accommodation.
The guidelines aim to encourage flexibility and innovation in accommodation design and support providers to create safe and comfortable living environments that promote independence, function and enjoyment.
Information gathered in the survey will assist in understanding the adoption of, and factors likely to impact, the National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines and will also inform the work of the Aged Care Taskforce.
The draft guidelines consider a range of design elements, including: accessibility; dementia-friendly design principles; the role of ‘small home models’ with residents living together in smaller ‘households’; and needs of diverse communities. As well as informing new builds, the guidelines include improvements that can be made to existing aged care homes.
The guidelines will be introduced from 1 July 2024. View and download the draft guidelines here.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said stakeholder feedback “will ensure the Principles and Guidelines provide a comprehensive, evidence-based resource to guide accommodation design and put quality and dignity back into aged care.
The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Closing date for participation is 20 October 2023.
