The important things to consider when building aged care facilities

This country has an ageing population, and as such, there is a huge demand for good aged care facilities. These can include nursing homes, palliative care, and specialist care facilities for people with illnesses such as dementia. In Australia, there are stringent laws that apply to the design and build of all aged care facilities. The federal government’s Aged Care Act 1997 outlines the expected standards of aged care buildings, and those that meet these standards are certified by the Department of Health and Ageing. As well as the law, builders must follow the regulations set out in the Building Code of Australia. Aged care facilities need to be able to cater to the needs of the elderly, the ill, and the less mobile. They also need to be safe places for staff to work in. Because of all these reasons, they are very complex projects. It is important to hire a construction company in NSW that understands and is compliant with all the rules.

Patterson Building Group has a wealth of experience in the aged care sector. Below are the kinds of things that our designers and builders take into consideration when working on aged care facilities.

Safety and security

Aged care buildings have two major functions: they are homes to the elderly, and workplaces for the staff. As such, they have to incorporate safety standards for both groups. All aged care facilities have to comply with the latest version of OH&S, which can be found on the Australian Government’s website. When working on these projects, builders need to reduce hazards. For example, they have to make sure there are no slippery or uneven surfaces, and that the stairs and railings have enough grip. Every person in the building needs to have easy access to emergency exits, and multiple fire alarms need to be in working order. Aged care facilities also need to be protected by security. While these security measures need to be unobtrusive to residents and staff, they have to be good enough to deter any unwanted visitors. Owners and builders are responsible for providing a safe working environment for staff, and for making the elderly feel at ease in their home.

Space and privacy

When it comes to aged care, designers need to create a space that is as homely as possible. In the design process, they consider the amount of space residents need in their bedrooms and common rooms. While it is mandatory that there are no more than 4 people per bedroom, most designers aim for no more than two. This takes into account the residents’ need for privacy, which is key to making them feel comfortable in their ‘home.’ There also needs to be enough space for staff and residents (who may be in wheelchairs) to move around easily and safely.

Accessibility

As the name suggests, aged care facilities cater mostly to the elderly. Therefore, a major thing to keep in mind is that elderly people are usually less mobile than the young. In fact, some facilities may cater to residents who are completely immobile. As such, the design and build of aged care needs to take this factor into account. For example, bathroom facilities should be located close to bedrooms and common rooms. There must also be some areas of the building that are accessible to everyone, including the disabled. To achieve this, designers will add features such as wheelchair ramps and elevators.

Amenities

As both a living and working environment, every aged care building needs adequate facilities. The number of amenities should be relative to the amount of people using the building. For example, the law states that there is a maximum of 6 residents per toilet and 7 per shower. When working on site, Sydney building companies need to ensure that the plumbing and electricity throughout the facility is unexposed and in working order.

Hopefully, the list above has given you a better idea of the kinds of things building companies need to take into consideration when working on aged care facilities. For more information on this topic, check out the ABCB or Australian Government websites.

How to Design a Quality Aged Care Facility

With an aging population construction companies in Sydney and around Australia have a vested interest in good aged care facility development. The differences with other large developments such as shopping centres are the specialised building requirements to make it suitable for older residents. Not only are there many government regulations to consider, but also the needs and resources of older Australians.

With a whole generation of baby-boomers retiring in the coming years, it is more important than ever to get aged care facilities built properly. There are many factors that make aged care facility development important to the Australian people:

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