NOVEMBER 2006
The following article appeared in Hospital & healthcare magazine.
Creating a dementia-sensitive domestic environment within regulatory constraints has its challenges. H&h
learns some of the key steps towards successful design.
The newest dementia facilities illustrate the importance of small, domestic and easy-to-read environments.
However, constructing a 'domestic' environment that meets the increasingly complex statutory requirements for
commercial buildings presents additional challenges.
Hammond Care, Australian Unity and Grand United are among the providers adopting a partnership approach with
aged care construction specialist, Grindley, to develop building models aligned with their operational
philosophy to address the issues of aging in place. "Most new aged care facilities now incorporate a component
of dementia specific care as the rising incidence of dementia in residents poses a growing challenge", says
Grindley Director Bob Southerton.
The following is a rundown of the major principles of dementia sensitive design:
Small and domestic environment
"The driving principal of dementia design is to enhance residents' esteem and dignity by creating homes
that are domestic rather than institutional, but that deliver operational efficiency. This impacts on size,
services, layout, facilities, furnishings and finishes", Grindley's Rod Burger comments.
Dr Stephen Judd, CEO of The Hammond Care Group, Australia's largest dementia specific provider explains, "To
create a domestic environment you need to keep it small. We have been evolving our ideal numbers and, at our
Erina facility, we have houses with as few as 10 people. At Woy Woy we have just six cottages each housing 14
residents."
Restoring choice and making services discreet
"Design needs to follow the premise of as few wrong choices as possible, so whichever direction the resident
takes, excellent cueing naturally leads them to their destination," Judd says.
"To minimise noise and disruption we take as many services out of the home as possible by situating plant
equipment and a service corridor round the back. To enable residents to have choice and flexibility of meals,
as they would have at home, our design model includes fully functioning kitchens in each cottage to cater
specifically to those 10, 12 or 14 people."
Design principles in action
Just completed by Grindley, Princess Juliana Lodge's Tulip Wing on Sydney's North Shore comprises two 10 bed
wings and showcases dementia design principles at work. Karen Jordan of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Care
Association comments, "The environment resembles a normal home as closely as possible and the atmosphere is
light and positive."
"The layout is simple. Accommodation wings lead to the central hub of the home - the kitchen, dining and
living space - the latter broken up by half-walls into cosy sitting nooks. Though it is secure you don't
feel constricted as extensive windows retain the connection with the outdoors."
"The living space flows to two outdoor level courtyards with pathways for residents to circumnavigate the
wing back to the living area. A fountain in one corner and a pergola up a small rise offer residents
destinations."
"Furniture is homely, understated and bright but not too uniform. By carpeting rooms in calming blues and
greens we're maximising comfort and minimising noise."
With bathrooms the odour of incontinence tends to be an issue for relatives. Grindley's solution was a new
non-slip vinyl that is easy to clean, solves the OH&S issue of staff slipping and looks good.
Easy to read environment
"By creating an 'easy to read' environment we are minimising stress to residents. For example, different
artworks in each wing and individualised craftwork name plaques on residents' doors are aids to recognition,
providing tactile and visual cueing.
"Outdoors we changed the stenciled paving to avoid hard lines or demarcations in colour that would force
residents to stop and work out whether they should step over," she adds.
Dementia design principles
In line with the aged care provider's operational philosophy, these basics need to be considered when designing for residents with dementia:
- Domestic environment
- Small in size
- Secure and safe for residents and staff
- Easy to read environment
- Minimal extraneous noise
- Visual and tactile cueing
- Few locked doors
- Indoor-outdoor flow
- Robust build
Construction challenges
"Fundamentally, these buildings and every detail down to the hardware needs to be extremely robust and
look good as you have people living and working there 24/7", surmises Bob Southerton.
Increasingly, the upgrading or conversion of facilities is being undertaken with the premises occupied. "You
can't always move people, so it is important you have the right building team on site who are experienced
and demonstrate sensitivity in the way they interface with dementia residents," Burger explains.
Southerton points out an added complication:
"Dementia care presents obvious difficulties in terms of the physical environment, yet there are multiple
points in the BCA (Building Code Australia) that impede safety when applied to a dementia care setting. For
example the BCA stipulates the provision of fire extinguishers, yet making extinguishers accessible to
dementia sufferers is unsafe."
Grindley is currently exploring an initiative to help align the 2008 Certification instrument for aged care
standards with the BCA, a move that will assist the progress of dementia care construction in Australia.
However, as Hammond Care's Judd concludes, "Only five per cent of resident aged care beds in Australia today
are dementia specific, even though the incidence of dementia in residential care is high. We need more
dementia-specific services.
SEPTEMBER 2006
Grindley success spells multiple entries in 2006 MBA Awards
Underlining a highly successful year, Grindley's quality projects and designs position us as multiple entrants
in this year's Master Builder's Association (MBA) Awards for Excellence in Construction.
The MBA is the major building and construction industry advocacy in Australia, and we look forward to competing
with the industry's best at the 2006 MBA Awards ceremony to be held in November.
Grindley had great success in the 2005 Master Builder Awards, including NSW and National awards for Constitution
Hill, a $125 million development comprising 425 units, a community centre and residential aged care
facility.
Awarded top honours in the 2005 MBA Excellence in Construction Award (NSW) in the major redevelopment/refurbishment
category, was Rosetta Park Wahroonga, a $27 million Independent living, residential aged care facility and
dementia facility. Also nominated for the national award, Rosetta Park acquiesced to Grindley's Constitution
Hill project.
We look forward to supporting the industry and the Master Builders in the 2006 award ceremony.
Grindley is a major sponsor, exhibitor and contributor to ACSA National Conference 2006.
An important industry event, The Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) Conference is being held
on the Gold Coast, from 17th-20th September 2006. Grindley co-founder Bob Southerton will be presenting
and participating in panel discussions at the Retirement Living Workshop on 17 September to explore design
issues and trends in Independent Living and integrated retirement communities.
Attendees are warmly invited to visit Grindley at stand 81/82 to discuss the issues and opportunities as we
look to forward the cause for improving and streamlining design and building standards through Standards for
Aged Living. This collaborative initiative was launched by Grindley and the Hammond Care Group with an
increasing number of contributing partners industry-wide.
We look forward to connecting with providers in the Queensland aged care and retirement living market to
facilitate our progressive expansion into this market.
www.agedcare.org.au/Conferences/2006_National_Conference/default.htm
AUGUST 2006
Grindley secures significant Residential Aged Care pipeline.
Grindley has recently secured two major RACF developments with award-winning aged care provider Warrigal
Care in Goulburn and Bundanoon. The later facility is a staged reconstruction and progressive relocation
of an existing facility.
We are encouraged by the alliance-building nature of the relationship between Warrigal Care and Grindley and look
forward to working with Warrigal Care, building to meet future demand for quality aged care in the area.
Work has commenced on an RACF facility with Hammond Care Group at Hammondville in the first of several
linked projects, including Independent Living and community facilities. Grindley's relationship with
Hammond Care Group, who are recognised nationally and internationally for innovation in aged and dementia
care services, spans over 5 years and includes our partnership in Standards for Aged Living.
Significant works with other major providers have been secured for projects commencing in 2007. We look
forward to announcing further details as commencements arise.
Scots College chooses Grindley...again
Capping off a busy July and August, in the Education sector Grindley is pleased to announce the pending commencement of upgrades for Scots College in Sydney, signifying our commitment to securing repeat business with existing clients.
JUNE 2006
Launch of Standards for Aged Living.
Standards for Aged Living, a Grindley and Hammond Care Group Initiative to advance dementia care
construction in Australia is being launched in Sydney at the International Dementia Conference, June 29th
and 30th.
The Initiative brings together industry regulators, assessors, designers and operators from across Australia to
align the requirements of the Building Code of Australia and the 2003-2008 Certification for aged care
standards.
Come and explore the issues with us at stand 18, Hammond Care International Dementia Conference & Exhibition,
for more details visit www.hammond.com.au/dsdc/conference2006.php
JUNE 2006
Grindley announces expansion into Queensland.
Grindley is bringing its services in aged, health and retirement living to the QLD market. Director Rod Burger,
together with founding Director Alan Carstens, are canvassing current projects in QLD. With co-founder Bob
Southerton, the team will spearhead Grindley's corporate introduction at the Aged & Community Services
Australia National Conference and Trade Exhibition 2006 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre from September
17th to 20th.
Rod Burger comments "It is a natural progression of the success of Grindley over 18 years to replicate this
model for design and construction of Aged Care facilities and the complete range of services - including
funding - for retirement communities through to construction and sales."
www.agedcare.org.au/Conferences/2006_National_Conference/default.htm
MARCH 2006
Grindley secures Blue Haven Village Kiama development contract.
In a $27 million deal Kiama Council has selected Grindley to develop Blue Haven Village independent living units. The 8 storey development is due to be completed in March 2007.
FEBRUARY 2006
Amity Group at Roseville signs up Grindley for extra services.
Furthering its partnership with Grindley, specialist aged care operator, Amity Group, has signed up Grindley for design and construction of an extra services nursing home of 46 beds. The project's due completion date is May 2007.
FEBRUARY 2006
Amity Group at North Rocks announces Grindley partnership for their new extension project.
Amity Group, the national provider of high quality aged care services, has chosen Grindley for a 70 bed extension to its existing nursing home at North Rocks. Grindley and Amity Group share a commitment to quality and progressive aged care services and have partnered on numerous projects. The extension project is due for completion in stages up to August 2007.
JANUARY 2006
January 2006 Market reflections
2005 represented a year of challenges and shifts in market sector strength. Grindley capitalised on its strategy of leadership in key markets of retirement living, lifestyle living, community facilities and aged care.
2005 Project highlights
In a year which heralded the sharp downturn in residential construction and a winter of discontent in the
NSW Tender market, Grindley achieved solid growth in turnover and work in hand to complete a record number
of projects, including:
Rosetta Park Wahroonga - Independent Living Units ($27 million)
Macquarie University Commerce Building - E4A/E4B ($28 million)
Australia Post International Mail Centre, Clyde, NSW ($9.5 million)
Pembroke Lodge - Residential Aged Care Facility, Minto, for Our Lady of the Sisters of China Healthcare
($8 million)
